A fan expresses himself
during a football game at the Nanjing Olympic Center.
More than 200 Beijing Olympics cheer-squad volunteers listened
carefully to a sports expert explaining the finer points of
basketball. The associate professor from Capital Institute of
Physical Education talked about its history, the rules and the
etiquette of watching the game, made hugely popular in China by Yao
Ming.
"When the US coach asked: 'When would China's basketball players
catch up with the US team?' the Chinese coach answered: 'When the
US ping-pong team plays as well as our team'."
Laughter erupted among the group, which included Jia Shuying, a
60-year-old woman who was part of last Friday's special cheer-squad
gathering. She did not go to work that day, and instead rode her
bicycle to her neighborhood residence committee to attend the
meeting. Like everybody in the room, she donned a white cap and
pink T-shirt, which had "Cheering from Beijing workers" written on
the front.
She also held a golden ribbon, a purple pompom, and a pair of
stick-shaped yellow balloons, which would be used later as a
percussion instrument.
This was the sixth time Jia had attended the cheering training
courses, which have been organized by Beijing Federation of Trade
Unions. The courses are aimed at helping Beijingers better
understand the different sports featured at the 2008 Games, and
also instruct them how to be an enthusiastic and well-mannered
audience.
The sports professor's basketball anecdotes made the class more
interesting and what followed was a video replay of a match between
the Chinese basketball team and the US.
A father and his daughter
are among the cheer squad for the Chinese Women's Football Team
during a game in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.
The group became more excited and applauded the Chinese players
when they performed well on court. The video gave them an
opportunity to practice their cheering techniques, shout slogans
and wave balloon tubes, ribbons and pompoms.
Two knocks of the tubes, then a shout: "Chinese athletes, fly!"
Two knocks of the tubes again. Or, two shakes of the pompoms: "Come
on, Chinese sportsmen!"
Jia and her friends enjoyed the sessions and performed with
gusto and devotion, but they can't wait for the real thing next
year.
Chen Huiping, one of the organizers of the group, says cheer
squad training began in early June and aimed to prepare Beijingers
for China's biggest-ever sporting event.
He wants to ensure local fans make a good impression to the
world.
Workers cheer at a
triathlon race held in Beijing's Changping District.
"People shouting out bad language when watching sport games is
definitely not the public image we want to present to the world in
the coming 2008," he says.
"So, when we found that Japan and South Korea had promoted good
manners among their people before the Olympic Games held in their
countries, we wanted to do the same in China too."
"Cheering from Beijing Workers" is a program driven by the
federation, whose branches in different districts in Beijing have
taken an active part.
Almost every week over the past five months, a training course
on knowledge of the Olympic Games and good manners has been held
across the city and more than 80,000 workers have taken part so
far.
Organizer Chen hopes to build the group into a major cheer squad
of more than 1 million workers.
Chen says he and other organizers are negotiating with the
Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
(BOCOG), in the hope of letting the group enter arenas and create a
big buzz for the athletes.
He says the project is already spreading enthusiasm among city
residents.
"Every worker has a family and a workplace," he says.
"When those who have taken part in the training go back home,
they will talk about what they have learned with their family; when
they go to work, they will share their experience with
colleagues.
"Sooner or later, the wider population will realize the
importance of good behavior when watching a game."
Xu Jiahong, a 43-year-old sport fan, feels proud to be part of
the squad and did not hide his joy on learning many interesting
sporting facts.
Now he knows when to cheer and when to keep quiet.
"I know now when the tennis players are serving, you should not
make any noise," he says, "and the audience can only cheer after
the point is over."
Cui Mei, 21, practices waving her ribbons and slogans at home,
and encourages her parents to join in.
"My parents actually envy me; they said everyone who has a
chance to be part of the Olympics is lucky."
When asked whether she would feel disappointed if she was unable
to buy a ticket for an event, Cui says even if she cannot
personally attend, she will use her new cheering skills at every
opportunity.
In fact, Cui and some other squad members have had the chance to
show off their skills at the recent "Good Luck Beijing" events,
which have acted as Games' warm-up events.
"It feels good to be part of a good-mannered audience," Cui
says.
(China Daily November 13, 2007)
