Olympics highlights web debate
Source: Xinhua |
August 5, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE ongoing London Olympics has become a huge topic in China as many express their excitement, anger and grievances through the country's fledgling social media. Behind the war of words is a collision of values among people, which was unusual before Twitter-like sites emerged.
Touted as the first Summer Games with extensive social media involvement, the 2012 Olympics has triggered wars of words on the Internet in China.
The opening ceremony caused the first firestorm. Some netizens hailed the London ceremony, saying it was "free, relaxed and touching" and calling what Beijing hosted four years ago just an "upstart luxury show."
However, some expressed disappointment and defended China's efforts. "The Beijing opening ceremony was extremely spectacular and impressive, while the 2012 ceremony had uncomfortable amounts of quirkiness and disorder," read one post on the Sina weibo microblog.
Netizens sympathized
While Internet users were divided on London's thrifty opening, they were united in support of Ye Shiwen when the Chinese teenage swimmer, who in her Olympic debut won two golds and set a world record, was questioned over whether she had used drugs.
And netizens sympathized with weightlifter Wu Jingbiao and criticized the country for placing too much emphasis on winning gold medals, after Wu apologized in tears for finishing second.
"Don't cry, Wu. It's just a game. You are a hero in my eyes no matter what," a netizen surnamed Su wrote in an entry on Sina weibo.
The expulsion of two Chinese badminton gold-medal contenders also caused much chatter on the country's microblogging sites.
Some said Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli, who were disqualified for not trying to win a match, should not have received such a severe punishment since the rules were "ridiculous." But others supported the decision, saying they apparently "violated the Olympics ideal and the spirit of fair play."
Such different voices expressed through social media show Chinese enjoy sharing their values, and on the other hand, the authorities are more tolerant of different views, said observers.
Social media serves as a stress reliever, where people can release emotions, said Lu Benfu, professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Touted as the first Summer Games with extensive social media involvement, the 2012 Olympics has triggered wars of words on the Internet in China.
The opening ceremony caused the first firestorm. Some netizens hailed the London ceremony, saying it was "free, relaxed and touching" and calling what Beijing hosted four years ago just an "upstart luxury show."
However, some expressed disappointment and defended China's efforts. "The Beijing opening ceremony was extremely spectacular and impressive, while the 2012 ceremony had uncomfortable amounts of quirkiness and disorder," read one post on the Sina weibo microblog.
Netizens sympathized
While Internet users were divided on London's thrifty opening, they were united in support of Ye Shiwen when the Chinese teenage swimmer, who in her Olympic debut won two golds and set a world record, was questioned over whether she had used drugs.
And netizens sympathized with weightlifter Wu Jingbiao and criticized the country for placing too much emphasis on winning gold medals, after Wu apologized in tears for finishing second.
"Don't cry, Wu. It's just a game. You are a hero in my eyes no matter what," a netizen surnamed Su wrote in an entry on Sina weibo.
The expulsion of two Chinese badminton gold-medal contenders also caused much chatter on the country's microblogging sites.
Some said Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli, who were disqualified for not trying to win a match, should not have received such a severe punishment since the rules were "ridiculous." But others supported the decision, saying they apparently "violated the Olympics ideal and the spirit of fair play."
Such different voices expressed through social media show Chinese enjoy sharing their values, and on the other hand, the authorities are more tolerant of different views, said observers.
Social media serves as a stress reliever, where people can release emotions, said Lu Benfu, professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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