Courageous China – An Example of Commitment

London Olympics 2012 the greatest event in the planet, participated by the finest athletes from around the globe ended with a grand ceremonial evening on August 12, 2012 elated with tears of exciting happiness and a spirit of sportsmanship reminiscing its theme - Faster, Higher, Stronger.

United States remains on top of the Table of Medals capturing 46 Gold Medals ahead of People’s Republic of China placed second with a total of 38 Gold Medals. China displayed a magnificent performance of their skills in leading the number of Medals over USA but at the end of the tunnel the American athletes with their fantastic performance overtook China to reach the first place. China with dedicated commitment to become the richest economy in the world has set an exemplary feature of sporting talents with hard work in order to achieve its goal at the Olympics.

Since commencement of Olympics in latter part of 1800s, it was noticeable that powerful nations were leading the games by starling performance of their talented athletes. It was perceived that giant nations had utilized the Olympic platform to disseminate their rich economy and political prowess to the rest of the world.

The real entry of People’s China into the Olympics was in 1984. The global political influences in the world delayed People’s China being entered into Olympics for a long period of time. On proclamation of the People’s Republic of China consequent to the Chinese Revolution in October 1949, representation on behalf of one China at the UN and other international organizations emerged a disputed debate. But with determined effort and commitment of the Chinese people under guidance of a great leadership, People’s Republic of China rose to the apex of development in economy, trade and technology at an incredible speed that the United States and the West could not further ignore the importance of initiating relationship with People’s China. Today People’s China or People’s Republic of China has become one of the Super Powers of the globe.

People’s Republic of China was formed under the leadership of Chairman Mao Se Thong consequent to the October Revolution led by the Chinese Communist Party in 1949. Chiang Kai Shek who ruled China at the time was driven away to Taipei (then Formosa) where he created Nationalist China. People’s China was not recognized by UN since UN Permanent membership in the Security Council was held by Nationalist China or Republic of China.

Until 1971 Nationalist China based in Taiwan also actively claimed to be the sole legitimate government of China, a claim recognized by USA and its allies during the period 1950s and 1960s. Since the People’s Republic of China was an ally of the Soviet Union, the United States opposed to give another permanent seat in the UN to the Communist bloc. In 1971 People’s Republic of China or People’s China secured the Permanent seat in the United Nations as the sole representative government for one China empowered under the terms and conditions of the UN Charter replacing all the powers enjoyed by Taiwan based National China.

Politically motivated indifference from the United States and its allies compelled People’s China to participate in sporting events with the Soviet Union and its allies. China missed a great deal of opportunity of gaining experience in international sports as they were deprived of participation with the Western bloc. Courageous Chinese further strengthened by this discriminatory approach of the West, engineered a methodical and strategic program through hard work in building a powerful nation. Today they have become a super power not only in sports but also in economy, trade and many other sectors.

According to historical records China had represented at the Olympics for the first time in 1932 and also in 1948. Nationalist China based in Taiwan had taken part in Olympics as the sole representative of China even after Chinese Revolution with a team of athletes only from Taiwan. In 1976 International Olympic Committee recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole representative of the Chinese people for the first time after 1949 October Revolution. Today Taiwan is a separate Democratic Republic, capital of which is Taipei representing Taiwanese people.

People’s Republic of China joined competition in 1952 at Helsinki Olympics in Finland just one event due to late arrival. Amazingly IOC opened doors for both People’s Republic of China and Nationalist China to participate at the Olympics but People’s Republic of China left the games in protest against participation of Nationalist China and kept away from Olympics until Winter Olympics held in 1980. People’s China was enrolled as the only representative for Chinese people by the IOC in 1976.

United States and the Western Europe did not favor Communist China and evaded having relationship with them. Both countries criticized each other on political issues of the world and dragged on hot debates for years. USA and the West could not distance China and Russia any further as they were essential for world peace. In realizing the necessity of mutual understanding they opened diplomatic relations between them and gradually built up a strong cordiality in order to live in co-existence.

The improvement of relationship USA had with People’s China through dialogue shed light to the game of sports that brought co-existence. In 1971 USA Table Tennis (Ping Pong) Team was in Nagoya, Japan participating at the 31st World Table Tennis Championship. On an invitation received while in Japan, USA enjoyed the opportunity of visiting People’s China. This tour became a new page opened in history of international politics for building a National Committee on US-China relations further strengthening their bondage of friendship. This was popularly known as Ping Pong diplomacy around the world. The historical meet in 1972 between President of the United States Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao in China was a significant milestone in world politics. Their cordial relations not only tempted China to enter Olympic Games again but also strengthened her claim for Permanent UN Security Council membership under the policy of one China for Chinese people.

People’s Republic of China participated in Los Angeles Olympics 1984 after thirty years of absence. Since then China has been a challenging participant at the Olympic Games held in Seoul ( 1988 ), Barcelona ( 1992 ), Atlanta (1996 ), Sydney (2000 ), Athens ( 2004 ), Beijing (2008) and London (2012). During this short period of experience China has mustered an incredible team of finest athletes to become a leading nation in sports with a slender pleasure to the Asian world. China, this future giant in sporting world, was able to bag 15 Gold Medals with 4th place at the Olympics in 1984. China topped highest number of medals in winning the first place in Beijing Olympics 2008 on her own soil and Second place in London Olympics 2012.

Medals Table of Key Players of Olympic and Rise of China

Since beginning the Olympic medals were won by the super powers turn by turn. This was clearly conspicuous when Olympics were hosted by the richer countries on their own soil. The boycott of Moscow Olympics 1986 by USA and its allies marked a significant blow to the World Unity. In retaliation USSR and its allies too boycotted Los Angeles Olympics 1984. Politically motivated protests of this nature against sports have sown the seeds of hatred among nations barring the finest athletic talents meeting together. After collapse of the USSR those countries seceded from the Soviet Union participated together at Barcelona Olympics. After the claps of Soviet Union, the most of the people expected the battle between USA and Europe in Olympics. But China with fast development projects already in massive progression under the present leadership is reaping a golden harvest not only in sports but also in economy, trade and technology etc. China remains the finest example of peaceful co-existence what is needed today.

It is believed that Chinese economy is the fastest in the entire world. China has become the world’s sixth largest economy with US $ 1.5 trillion GDP in 2002 appraised by the nominal GDP. She has sagaciously maintained an average growth rate of 7% during the last few decades targeting a long-term development. China with a massive power of labor force, affluence of raw materials, voluminous energy, quantitatively enriched in resources together with three busiest ports of their own among the world’s five busiest ports, will potentially become the major economic power of the planet not only in production but also in service sector.

Currently China ranks 5th position in service output in world trade. High power and telecom density ensure the sector to remain on a long-term high growth trajectory. China ranked the second largest economy in the world has reached a target of US $10 trillion GDP in 2012.

It has been predicted that by 2020 there will be a major shift in the global balance of economic power compared to 2010. With the results of the rapid development of the economy China is tipped to supersede USA leading the world’s top ten largest economies by GDP measured on PPP terms. As per incredible emergence in sporting events China is favored to lead the sports world as well setting an example of courage and commitment to victory. The Wright Brothers flew right through the smoke screen of impossibility.

(The writer is the former Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

- Asian Tribune -