The Ping That Changed the World
In 1971, Ping-Pong—the “ping heard round the world”— helped to create the first person-to-person, and then diplomatic, ties between two Cold War enemies: China and the United States.
China’s Rise to Sporting Power
It is said that a journey of 1,000 li? begins with a single step. The same is true of a race of 100 meters and a nation’s journey to the Olympic spotlight.
Women and Sport in China
Chinese women have excelled in elite sports for decades, but at long last athletic activity at the grassroots level seems to be taking off, aided in part by a shifting perception of the purpose of sport.
Extreme Sports in China
Although extreme sports are gradually growing in popularity in China, they are still perceived as risky, and people prefer buying the gear and watching the events to actively participating themselves.
Green Olympics
How green are Beijing’s green Olympics? China faces serious pollution problems, but its position as host of the Olympics is providing a strong impetus for ecological reform.
Sponsorship of the Beijing Olympics
Corporate sponsorship is an essential aspect of the modern Olympic Games. At the Beijing Olympics, as at earlier Olympics, companies are willing to shell out tens of millions of dollars to get their names before a worldwide audience.