so what. « alia

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so what.

August 15, 2008

I’m doing what every blogger in the planet has done this week. I am writing an Olympic post.

People often talked about how China was more concerned about saving face than actually being part of the history of the Games. Why wouldn’t they? Foreigners suddenly invade a country that’s isolated itself for the most part of the last millenium (they even put up a wall, for goddness’ sake). Athletes worried about the thick smog and the quality of living as they arrive in conspicucous medical masks. But then to cope up, China built a new airport terminal, reduced fifty percent of their land traffic, shut down factories in the city, conquered an architectural feat by erecting the Bird’s Nest and had their cab drivers learn English. However, the international press still felt constricted with the controversial firewall that would never be entirely lifted.They attempted to make the world’s greatest fireworks display in a densely populated, smog-covered city for the international audience; and the world still makes a fuss about the computer generated bit of it. A cute kid sings their national hymn with a big smile and the everyone keeps busy making an issue of the lip-synching.

So what if they’re saving face? At least they’re winning medals. We send what, fifteen Olympians, and some of them are not even true-blooded Pinoys? Sure, Phelps will always set records and the Dream Team will always hoard points; but we spent our taxes for our athletes to play in this momentous sports event (and for Manny to wave our flag in a backdrop of blue barongs). We don’t swim, fight or punch but we care, dammit.

Funny thought: I just realized that I actually weighed heavier than our gold medal pambato in boxing. Payat niya no? (Or it could go: Taba ko no?) Lol.

But then let’s go over the impressive ones… the ones who’ll get 10, 000 hits on Google just from busy bloggers. If the Games are really named after Mt. Olympus like I assume it is, then I say Michael Phelps is an Olympic god. And weightlifting’s Liu Chunhong is some sort of demigoddess- oh, how she made setting records look so easy. You know, Yao Ming used to give me the creeps. Asian guy standing over seven feet with a strong square-ish face… why won’t I find him creepy? Even my tall cousins used to scare me. But Yao Ming, recently, surprisingly impressed me. So what if he’s got injured knees, broken feet and an infected toe? So what if he’s all tired and burned out? So what if he missed seven of his ten shots? He played majestically; like nothing else mattered more than that orange ball and the pride of his country. So take a breather, big guy… while we patiently hope for a gold and China continues to battle with rival US for that number 1 spot.

Another thing. Because of the Beijing 2008 games, my dream destination- The Forbidden City- has been much more devirginized.

Posted by alia at 12:03 am | permalink

Previous Comments

I think the issue isn’t simply about lipsynching. It was about a kid lipsynching not to her own pre-recorded voice, but that of another kid, whose talent was only given credit as an afterthought, when all other people have reacted violently.

Posted by Stella at August 15, 2008, 12:40 am

Thanks for the comment, Stella.

Well, true… the other kid’s talent wasn’t recognized until after the news came out. Sad and disappointing as it may sound, I’ve come to realize that’s how it works in the actual world. That’s why the industry of ghost singers and body doubles lives and earns.

Posted by alia at August 15, 2008, 12:47 am

it wouldn’t have mattered if it was just about the lip-synching kid. what’s galling is that a lot of ‘underhanded’ details (about the way this Olympics is being hosted) are starting to pile up

1. age of chinese gymnasts — several online & print reports citing that these girls are actually younger than they claim have either been hastily corrected or taken out.

2. some of the impressive visual effects seen on TV during the opening ceremonies were actually computer-enhanced

3. some of the ‘minority’ kids that went on parade during the opening were actually just kids who were dressed to look like they were part of china’s minority groups.

and michael phelps? this guy has been reaping medals since the 2004 Athens Games (6 golds, 2 bronzes), and i’ve been following his career ever since. he’ll probably score a few more golds in the 2012 London Olympics.

if you guys are still awake… thanks. ok, i’m signing out now

Posted by onyxx at August 17, 2008, 1:40 am

@ Onyxx: Well, even though China produces lead-contaminated stuff and cheap substandard items, and now presents a sometimes wrong facade for the Games… I don’t know, it’s still one of my favorite countries.

And Phelps just snatched his 8th gold! I’ve never been an avid viewer of the swimming events, but he just impresses me. I’m more in the soccer and weightlifting audience.

Posted by alia at August 17, 2008, 2:35 pm

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Old enough to drive, drink and gamble anywhere in the world. Too young to get married without parental advice. Science degree holder. Writer. Goddess in an alternate world. Geek in the real one. Likes airplanes, books, art, photography, anime, manga, movies and doing amateur silly critiques of everything.