The Olympics are important for China's reputation in the world, as discussed in this article. But what I want to discuss in this post is some of the symbolism that China has created for the Olympics. The Chinese are fond of symbolism, as the following two examples show.The 2008 Olympic emblem-"Dancing Beijing"-represents both a dancing person and the Chinese character for Beijing. You can see the Dancing Beijing Olympic emblem in the photo above. It is meant to represent China's spirit, commitment to Olympic ideals, and invitation to the world. You can read more about the meaning of the Dancing Beijing Olympic emblem here.
The 2008 Olympic mascots-"Fuwa"-are particularly endearing: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini. There is much symbolism in these characters, beginning with the fact that the first syllables of their names say "Welcome to Beijing" or "Beijing welcomes you." You can read the fascinating story behind the Fuwa here and here.
