CHINA: Despite protests and criticisms abroad, Chinese people are going to great lengths to spread own Olympic messages

Record ID: 329673

  • Title: CHINA: Despite protests and criticisms abroad, Chinese people are going to great lengths to spread own Olympic messages
  • Date: 30th April 2008
  • Summary: (W2) BEIJING, CHINA (RECENT) (REUTERS) ZHAO BANDI HOLDING TOY PANDAS SCHOOL CHILDREN LINED UP IN PLAYGROUND PANDA MASCOTS SITTING ON TABLE ZHAO BANDI GIVING OUT PANDAS TO STUDENTS STUDENTS HOLDING PANDAS STUDENTS POSING FOR PHOTO WITH PANDAS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ZHAO BANDI, ARTIST, SAYING: "I think that my own mascots, in my opinion, are much more attractive than the Olympic mascots, don't you think? This is my own warmth, this is Zhao Bandi's attitude. I wanted to find a way to express and a vehicle that would demonstrate it. I think that I really am the first person who has done this, to produce such a symbol, I am the first and maybe the only."
  • Embargoed: 15th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Lifestyle,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7VYZTPWXXGI7YP4AXZM9ZSMHM
  • Story Text: Although they are not officially sanctioned by the Olympic authorities, the panda soft toys are the latest in a string of projects innovated by Chinese people keen to show their Olympic spirit.
    With 100 days left before the Opening Ceremony, excitement in China is mounting and Chinese people are finding outlets for their enthusiasm.
    Olympic themed projects are springing up across the country, independent of the official Chinese Olympic body. Whilst the Chinese government is hoping to put behind it the tumultuous events of the past month which have taken much of the gloss off preparations, its people are keen to show their continuing support.
    Zhao Bandi has exhibited his panda art both at home and abroad using pandas as a means to provide social commentary on China. His contribution to China's Olympics is 15,000 cuddly panda bears in the Olympic colours which he means to distribute across the country and abroad.
    His panda mascot tour began on Tuesday (April 29) in Beijing. Mingyuan school teaches children from migrant workers families. Zhao hopes that his panda mascots will spread the right attitude.
    "I think that my own mascots, in my opinion, are much more attractive than the Olympic mascots, don't you think? This is my own warmth, this is Zhao Bandi's attitude. I wanted to find a way to express and a vehicle that would demonstrate it. I think that I really am the first person who has done this, to produce such a symbol, I am the first and maybe the only,"
    said Zhao.
    Olympic mascots appear again in the independent short film 'Fuwa', meaning Olympic mascots. It is a film entirely funded and produced by a community of Olympic enthusiasts in Beijing.
    It tells the story of five Beijing children and their Olympic adventures, giving each child a portion of Olympic spirit that is designed to inspire its audience. Yan Xikai played Nini, a young boy who constructs his own Olympic mascot kite.
    "I am really happy that I have finally done something for the Olympics. I want to do even more for the Olympics," said Yan Xikai.
    Chinese is highly protective of its long awaited Olympics, despite a stepped up security presence in Beijing and criticism from abroad. Fuwa director Jiang Yuan was keen to show how much China had embraced the Olympic spirit.
    "There were a lot of people who put up their own children's stories online. I was really impressed by the girl, Huan Huan, who played herself in the true story in the film. It was her story that convinced me that I should direct the film, and do something for my fellow countrymen to demonstrate the Olympic spirit," said Jiang.
    Many more independent projects are springing up across the country as the nation, undaunted by critics, is determined to prove that China was the right choice for the 2008 Games.
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