Olympics close without breaking China’s carefully enforced script

A week ahead of the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, Chinese President Hu Jintao sat down with 25 foreign correspondents in the Great Hall of the People. In the rare, if uneventful, exchange, he pledged “peaceful development” and political reform, furthering a sense that China was searching for common ground with the Western world. Fourteen years later, the prelude to Beijing’s second run as Olympics host included no such gesture. Hours before the Opening Ceremonies, Chinese President Jinping set the tone with his first in-person meeting with another head of state in nearly two years: a meal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which Xi stated, in case there was any doubt, that the two stood “shoulder to shoulder” on international affairs. The Winter Olympics have since proceeded according to Beijing’s carefully enforced script, demonstrating China’s prowess in sports, technology and social control, while projecting an uncompromising attitude toward its many diplomatic disagreements with democratic nations.

Events ended Sunday evening much as they began — with a futuristic performance in front of bundled-up spectators filling about half of the National Stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest. With Xi watching through binoculars, athletes filed in beneath a three-dimensional image of a red Chinese knot, a good-luck charm symbolizing unity and longevity. In a speech, Beijing’s Communist Party chief, Cai Qi, said he was proud of epidemic prevention workers and volunteers for keeping events safe and warm. “This unforgettable experience was only possible because of our gracious hosts: the Chinese people,” International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said to conclude proceedings. The Chinese Communist Party may be happy with the results. But anyone hoping the mass sporting event could nudge China toward being more open and less repressive has little cause for celebration. There was no major covid outbreak in China thanks to a “closed loop” of venues; after a warning from Chinese officials, there were no political protests targeting Beijing; and with an expanded team of naturalized athletes, a country that has been traditionally weak in winter sports exceeded expectations, including nine gold medals.