Olympics about more than winning gold

The 33rd Summer Olympic Games officially opened in Paris on Friday. Athletes from around the world are competing to showcase their talents, following the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together".

One of the largest global sporting events, the Olympics attract billions of viewers worldwide. For most audiences, the most thrilling moment of the Olympics is undoubtedly the moment when a gold medal is won.

Chinese people have a profound understanding of the Olympic gold medal. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics marked the first time that New China sent a team to participate in the Olympics, as well as the first time a Chinese athlete, Xu Haifeng, won gold. The whole country erupted in joy when he won the men's 60-shot free pistol event, which was a historic moment that was widely celebrated nationwide. At that time, the significance of winning an Olympic gold went far beyond the sports competition itself; it greatly enhanced the national pride and confidence of all Chinese people and significantly improved the nation's international image.

But people now are paying more attention to the athletes' competitive spirit and the athletes' efforts are no longer simply measured by whether they win a medal or not. People now understand and respect every athlete's efforts whether he/she wins a medal or not.

For example, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a member of the Chinese women's gymnastics team fell from the bar during the asymmetric bars event, yet despite the accident that doomed her chances of achieving a high ranking, she still insisted on completing the competition. Her spirit of not giving up and persisting to the end deeply moved both the audience present and those watching on TV. After the competition, this athlete received warm applause for her insistence on participating to the end.

On the Olympic stage, gold medals are no longer the sole criterion for measuring an athlete's value. An increasing number of viewers appreciate the athletes' fighting spirit, pursuit of their dreams, and the effort and hard work that have brought them to the peak of their sport. No matter the outcome, as long as the athletes exhibit the Olympic Spirit, they will win the applause of their compatriots.

At the ongoing Paris Olympics, we wish Chinese athletes all the best and hope they will inspire themselves to new heights with the Olympic Spirit, continuously strive for excellence, dare to break through their personal limits. As viewers in front of the screen, we should not only applaud those who win gold medals but also give our applause to all athletes who embody the Olympic Spirit through their competitive endeavors.

JSCHINA.COM.CN