Perspective on China's 33 Year Changes and Three Asian Games Windows

In 1987, a 12-year-old student from Jiangsu Province, Yan Haixia, saw a proposal from the China Youth Daily to donate to the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, so she donated the 1.6 yuan New Year's money she had just received.

Yan Haixia did not expect that she would leave a mark in the history of Chinese sports as the first person to donate to the Beijing Asian Games.

Time flies by. From the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, to the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, and then to the current Hangzhou Asian Games, China has formed an inseparable bond with the Asian Games, spanning 33 years and hosting three times.

If we compare the Asian Games to a window, through the three windows of the three Asian Games, you can more intuitively see the historic changes and achievements that have occurred in Chinese society over the past 33 years.

Nowadays, Yan Haixia, who has passed her forties, is a primary school teacher in Jianyang Town, Jianhu County, Jiangsu Province. Recalling the donation, Yan Haixia said, "This is not my own thing, but the choice of our generation."

Left image: In March 1990, Yan Haixia flipped through a thank-you letter written by the fundraising department of the 11th Asian Games Organizing Committee on March 19, 1987, for her donation. Right image: This is the original text of the thank-you letter. Shen Jizhong

Changes in National Strength

"In Asia, mountains are high heads; in Asia, rivers are like hot blood flowing..." The melody of "Asian Wind" resounded through the autumn of 1990.

The Beijing Asian Games was a big and difficult event for China at that time.

The reason for saying "big" is that this is the first time China has hosted a large-scale international comprehensive sports event, and it is also a grand event for China to showcase its national image to the outside world after the reform and opening up.

Saying "difficult" is because at that time we were still in the early stages of reform and opening up, with limited financial resources. At that time, relevant parties estimated that the preparation for the Asian Games required 2.5 billion yuan, with a shortfall of 600 million yuan.

"Everyone cares about the Asian Games, everyone contributes to the Asian Games!" For a moment, the voice of support echoed throughout China. According to post match statistics, more than 100 million people donated funds and materials to the Asian Games, raising a total of 700 million yuan.

In 2010, 20 years later, the Asian Games returned to China, and this stop was Guangzhou.

The rapid development of the Chinese economy has elevated the Guangzhou Asian Games to a higher starting point. In 2009, Guangzhou's GDP exceeded 900 billion yuan, equivalent to more than half of the national GDP in 1989.

On November 12, 2010, the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games was held on Haixinsha Island in Guangzhou. At the opening ceremony, the main torch burned brightly. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Fan Jun

In addition to financial investment, revenue from market development and donations has become an important source for Guangzhou to host the Asian Games. According to post match statistics, there were 52 sponsoring companies for the Guangzhou Asian Games, with a far greater number of sponsors and sponsorship amounts than previous games, setting a record for the highest market development achievements at that time.

Nowadays, China's total economic output ranks second in the world. In 2022, the regional GDP of Hangzhou exceeded 1.87 trillion yuan. The consideration for organizing the Asian Games in Hangzhou is to be green, intelligent, frugal, and civilized. To this end, venues are "supplied according to demand" and "reflect Hangzhou's characteristics", showcasing urban inclusiveness and humanistic care, and the level and standards of hosting competitions are higher.

The memories of the Asian Games in Beijing and Guangzhou have not gone far, and the light of the Asian Games is about to shine by the West Lake. From 1990 to 2023, there have been three Asian Games held in 33 years, spanning mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, reflecting China's tremendous changes.

Changes in Concepts

Some people say that the Beijing Asian Games is a watershed for the rise of competitive sports in China.

At that Asian Games, the Chinese sports delegation lived up to expectations and won 183 gold medals, giving great encouragement to the Chinese people. Afterwards, China's gold medal advantage continued to dominate the "Asian sports rankings" and achieved remarkable breakthroughs in the Olympic medal table at a dazzling speed.

With more and more people watching sports events and participating in sports activities, the mentality of Chinese people has quietly changed. We are no longer solely focused on gold medals, but have a more comprehensive and objective understanding of sports, demonstrating a more mature mindset.

This change is evident on the field.

Many people still remember that after the men's singles badminton final at the Guangzhou Asian Games, Lin Dan, who won the championship, took the initiative to embrace the defeated Malaysian athlete Li Zongwei. They blend the competition for honor with the friendship that transcends national borders.

At that moment, enthusiastic applause overwhelmed the entire venue. That genuine emotion infected everyone.

This change is reflected in the competition.

In Beijing, children skate in front of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games mascot "Panpan" sculpture at the National Olympic Sports Center. The National Olympic Sports Center Stadium behind "Panpan" was once the track and field competition venue for the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Zhonghao

At the Beijing Asian Games, the mascot "Panpan" conveys China's fervent call for "unity, friendship, and progress", and also makes the world aware of a China that is moving towards openness.

At the Guangzhou Asian Games, the mascot "Five Rams" invited Asian people to participate in the "Passionate Event" and jointly build a "Harmonious Asia", conveying sincere blessings.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games, the mascots "Jiangnan Yi" are named "Congcong", "Lianlian", and "Chenchen" respectively. They are a group of robots that carry profound cultural heritage and are full of vitality of the times. Three intimate partners are messengers who spread the Olympic spirit, peace, and friendship, demonstrating a broad mindedness and firm cultural confidence that embraces all rivers.

This change is also embedded in public opinion.

Recently, Hangzhou has issued an initiative to encourage citizens to support the success of this national event, a provincial event, and a joyful event at the doorstep of citizens, striving to become practitioners of civilized travel, leaders of green travel, promoters of civilized etiquette, maintainers of urban appearance, and guardians of urban honor, attracting positive responses from citizens.

Striving to be these "five", not just during the Asian Games? Over the years, it has long been a new trend of civilization practiced by people from all over the world.

People realize that Asian countries are neighbors who cannot move away. With a large population, interconnected geography, and economic integration, it is necessary to cherish friendship, unite and cooperate.

The Change of Progress

The Asian Games marked the beginning of China's hosting of international sports events.

In recent years, China has hosted many heavyweight international sports events, from the Asian Games to the Olympics and Winter Olympics. These grand events have accelerated the infrastructure construction of various host cities, and sports have also been widely popularized. Sports are increasingly integrated into the lives of ordinary people and becoming a way of life.

In 2009, China established "National Fitness Day", and national fitness gradually became a trend. Today, whether it is various sports venues or community venues, whether it is urban or rural, whether it is daily or weekend holidays, people are passionate about sports, experiencing the joy of sports, and blooming the beauty of life in sports activities.

Not long ago, the popular Guizhou "Village Super" came to an exciting end. On the day of the final, tens of thousands of tourists and fans from all over the country rushed into Rongjiang, and the stadium was packed with people. Online and offline, it's incredibly lively. This is not only the passion of the people of Rongjiang for sports, but also the most genuine pursuit of sports by the people of the whole country.

This is a photo taken on September 9, 2023 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Tennis Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi

The Hangzhou Asian Games are about to open.

From "unity, friendship, and progress" to "passionate event, harmonious Asia", and then to "heart to heart integration @ future", the theme slogans of the three Asian Games, "friendship," "harmony," and "heart to heart integration," actually mean unity and cooperation.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games, all 45 members of the Asian Olympic Council signed up to participate, which fully proves this point.

We believe that this will be an exciting sports event.

Athletes from afar and global audiences will witness together: an elegant and wise Hangzhou, a vibrant and confident Zhejiang, and a more open and inclusive China.

Just as a song that supports the Asian Games sings the meaning of being with us, the Chinese people will work together with the Asian people and the people of the world, blending their hearts and loving the future.