OPINION | Tang Xinyun: China's change of Olympic narratives - 'who I am' to 'what we are'

On the evening of February 20, 2022, the closing ceremony of the 24th Olympic Winter Games at the National Stadium in Beijing, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and IOC President Thomas Bach, marked a perfect ending of the world’s top sports event, filled with Chinese-style beauty and romance. Beijing has thus become the first city to have successfully hosted both a summer and winter games, making a new history for the Olympics.

The idea of “Dual Olympic” was fully manifested throughout the ceremony. The impressive moments of the twinkling stars forming the five rings in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games received their makeover and recurred on the stage this time, reminding people of the inheritance and development of the Olympic spirit. Besides, elements embedded in Chinese traditional culture were depicted vividly in an artistic way. For example, red and blue were used widely in this spectacular “party”, which represented China and ice respectively. The great Chinese knot, hanging on the stage, was a symbol of unity, peace and luck, implying that people from different continents and oceans shared the same obligation to strive for a community of shared future for mankind. Another romantic item, willow twig, rested upon the sincere regret over parting and wishes of the Chinese people, radiating warmth, openness and inclusiveness to the whole world. 

Similar to the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony was designed in minimalist style. Most performances were simple but full of power and energy with the aid of high-technology. Moreover, instead of professional actors or elites, most of the performers were students or ordinary people from all walks of the Chinese society. It was more like a happy gathering than an official performance.

If we compare with Beijing’s 2008 Summer Games, it is obvious that China no longer made every effort to show its long history, rich culture and profound civilization on purpose, nor catered to the outside expectations for an ancient country. It was evident this time that China is trying to present a genuine daily life of Chinese people to the world rather than a high profile of the great success China has achieved in the long history.

The time is changing, and everything is totally different With the “Dual Olympics,” China is more confident in itself and focues more than a narrative of who we are rather than just who I am. China is happy to embrace a harmonious, though still complicated, international scenario and is presenting its stories in a way that are more acceptable to peoples from different cultures. In the meanwhile, China is  trying to getting rid of the “old-China”stereotypes that were imposed on the nation for centuries. Zhang Yimou, who directed both opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies for the two Olympics, has concluded incisively. “In 2008, China was eager to tell the world “who I am”, but this time the concept of ‘we’ was focused.”

The 2022 Winter Olympics has come to a successful conclusion and it will certainly be a precious memory for many peoples from different nations. But for China, it is just a new start to build up more connections with the world in the global communication. The passion and love of the Chinese people will continue the Olympic theme and spirit.

The author, Tang Xinyun, is a first-year Ph.D. candidate at the School of Journalism and Communication, Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) and assistant researcher in Fujian Academy of Social Sciences.