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Beijing newspapers let rip with Olympic joy
2001-07-14
BEIJING - A picture of a delirious party-goer soaking his friends with beer captured the triumphant mood of Beijing's popular press on Saturday, a day after the city's historic victory in snagging the 2008 Olympics. After a night of wild celebration by revellers on Tiananmen Square -- some 200,000 of them according to police quoted by the Beijing Youth Daily -- newspapers let rip with a flood of emotional headlines and stories. "Smiles Everywhere, Joy Ignites," blazed a headline in the Beijing Morning Post beneath a picture of a man spraying beer from a shaken bottle of Heineken beer. "56 Votes -- A Beautiful Win," read another headline, a reference to the city's landslide win in an International Olympic Committee vote in Moscow. The city of 12 million people let its hair down with an all-night party of singing, drinking and flag-waving. Even President Jiang Zemin and members of the ruling Politburo abandoned restraint, wading in to a sea of people in Tiananmen Square to exchange high fives, hugs and smiles with the crowds. Highlighting the commercial opportunities for Western companies thrown open by the Moscow vote, the Beijing Morning Post carried a half-page advertisement for Coca-Cola, which has signed up to sponsor the 2008 Games. The newspaper laid out for its readers a vision of the city seven years from now. Taxis taking Olympic visitors to venues would be equipped with satellite guidance and positioning systems, public telephone boxes would offer Internet connections and giant screens hung from skyscrapers would broadcast live sporting action to commuters. It speculated that as many as half the city's population would turn out as volunteers. Jogging suits would be the dress of choice. Health clubs would spring up all over the city. And to make life easier for visiting journalists in the sports-mad city, a fleet of helicopters would be placed at their disposal. TAIWAN OPTIMISTIC In Taiwan, there was cautious optimism that by awarding the Games to Beijing the IOC had reduced the threat of war across the Taiwan Strait. "For the industrial and commercial sector, it's like buying an insurance policy that (China) will not invade Taiwan for seven years," the mass circulation United Daily News said. "Beijing's Olympic victory is like the beginning of a new chess game between mainland China and the international community -- new rules of engagement and new thinking designed to create a win-win situation," it said in an editorial. Beijing has threatened to attack Taiwan if the island declared independence or dragged its feet on unification talks. Since their 1949 civil war break-up, Beijing has regarded Taiwan as a renegade province that must return to the fold. Beijing won the Olympic vote despite international concern at China's human rights record. The English-language Taipei Times said while Beijing had secured the Games "it clearly doesn't deserve them." It predicted an "orgy of nationalist bombast." "Can it turn itself into a more worthy host? If not then the prospect of a boycott has to be a serious option," the newspaper said in an editorial. CLEANING UP As dawn broke over Beijing, street sweepers were clearing up the debris from the giant street party. Throughout the night, the wide Avenue of Eternal Peace leading to Tiananmen Square was jammed as people celebrated not just the Olympics, but what they see as a milestone in China's long efforts to take its place on the world stage as a great nation. "The world has recognised us," said university teacher Zu Danliang, 38, as fireworks exploded in a colourful blaze overhead and blue lasers shot into the sky. The revellers included housewives in pyjamas, off-duty soldiers, punks with dyed yellow hair and children of all ages, their shouts of joy punctuated by bursts of firecrackers. "At last, victory for Beijing" said 16-year-old student Lin Youfang. "This means the motherland has become a superpower." Roads all over the city were jammed with honking cars. Delirious passengers waving red flags hung out of taxi windows, yelling and singing patriotic songs. The area around Tiananmen became a carnival of monster proportions. Police on Tiananmen Square, often a sullen and menacing presence as they watch vigilantly for any sign of protest, broke into smiles, stood back and watched the fun. Victory was sweet for a city set up for cruel disappointment eight years ago by an over-zealous state propaganda machine when Sydney pipped Beijing by just two votes in the race to host the 2000 Games. In living rooms and dormitories, bars and restaurants, Beijing residents had huddled around televisions sets and radios to follow the voting in Moscow. The state broadcaster China Central Television repeatedly flashed "We've Won" in huge red characters on its screens. Reuters
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