First Gold Medals Go to Beijing Cops

Editor’s Note: Meet Junling Cui, our exclusive wOw Woman on the scene in Beijing. For the Olympics, wowOwow goes right to the source for an insider’s perspective on the news coming out of Beijing. Joyce will be reporting from both the women’s perspective and from the point of view of a Chinese national, on all things Olympics — from the athletes’ stories to the social impact of the games.

Finally, finally, finally.

We have cut through the tense, gloomy gray exterior (both figuratively and literally) that Beijing has been for the last few days, and had some fun (not that you could tell, admittedly, from the ridiculously stoic visages of our country’s leadership. Those guys need to relax, at least for a minute). As the opening ceremonies unfurled in front of 91,000 in the Bird’s Nest, choreographed by China’s most famous film director, Zhang Yimou ("Raise the Red Lantern," "Ju Dou," "Red Sorghum") – thousands upon thousands more of us gathered out in the streets, in front of big screens that had been set up in various spots throughout the city. I’m a Shanghai native, but went to college here in Beijing, then spent the next five years working as a producer for CCTV, China’s state-owned television network.

Several of my college friends rode their bikes and gathered not far from the Bird’s Nest and watched on a big screen set up for the occasion. One of them was a friend who now lives in Chicago. She flew all the way back just for the occasion, and was struck by the crowds she mingled with tonight. It was relaxed and cheerful — but low-key, not raucous. We had waited so long for this night. One of my friends said, "We can finally relax now, it’s finally here."

Compare this to the reaction in Beijing seven years ago, in the summer of 2001, when the IOC awarded Beijing the games. Now THAT was raucous. The celebration was explosive. Tens of thousands jammed the city and screamed their lungs out, making as much noise as possible. I was riding that evening in my ex-boyfriend’s car — and I honked the horn so many times it eventually broke. My ex-boyfriend was not pleased. The car was a Mercedes. (Although that was not the reason we broke up.)

Tonight wasn’t like that. Yes, there was a heavy police presence, but they didn’t hassle anybody that we saw. Many of the police, if they had a view of one of the outdoor big screens, watched the over the top (but stunning) "Zhang show" like everyone else. Then we stood and watched the interminable procession of teams entering the stadium—"Hooray Mauritius!" one of my friends bellowed jokingly. How relaxed were we? Even Japan got a cheer from the assembled throngs.

But there was no hysteria; no full-throated, throbbing nationalists, as far as I could see. This has been a tough year for China. The winter was unusually bad; then Tibet; then the tumultuous Torch Relay; then the earthquake in Sichuan. That put everything in its proper perspective. Sure, we were ready for opening night of the Olympics — ready to have a bit of fun and ready, really, to get on with it.

The Games, finally, have begun. Now let the sports — those that athletes play for fun and for profit — begin. We’ll be cheering, just like everyone else, everywhere else.