August 23, 2008 1:27 PM
The Chinese Have Invented Everything
I've gotten my hands on a copy of the "Beijing Olympic Games Training Series: A Conversational English Reader." BOCOG -- the Beijing Olympic governing body -- is using it as a manual to teach volunteers how to react to any situation that may arise during the Games. Some of those situations just happen to be a bit unusual.Today's text is reproduced in its entirety and is not edited. All non-sequiturs and grammatical errors are theirs. The text is titled "In the movie theatre of the Exhibition Centre" from the "At the Exhibition Centre" section of the reader. The text is a fine example of how the Chinese take credit for inventing just about everything. Enjoy:
Foreign visitor #2: Sir, did ancient Chinese play any ball game? A Chinese friend told me the other day that the soccer, I mean football, originated in China. To be honest with you, I thought he was joking and I'm not convinced of that yet. Football started in England in 1863, didn't it?
Local volunteer: Well, it all depends on how you define the word "football." I guess you'll be convinced today right at this exhibition. You will see pictures in the hall illustrating how the ancient Chinese played Cuju, a game similar to the present-day football. The earliest record concerning the history of Cuju dates back to 475 BCE. That is, some 2,300 years ago, during the Han Dynasty. Cuju had already become more than a recreational game that was enjoyed by some people from all walks of life. It was also employed by some commanding generals as a means of military training, an exercise that was used to build up the soldiers' physical strength and improve their agility. Based on these facts, in 2004, FIFA reckoned that football had its origin in China.
Foreign visitor #1: Wow, I am convinced of it already. Isn't it amazing that China already had football players over 2,000 years ago. I wonder why the sport finally declined in China.
Local volunteer: Well, Cuju was different from the modern game of football, and those professional players, if you wish, were performers or entertainers in a strict sense. Unlike the wealthy and well-admired football stars today, they were looked down up and remained poor throughout their lives. They wouldn't even like their children to be professional Cuju players.
Foreign visitor #2: That makes sense. If they were born today, they would think differently. Football stars are an envy of the whole world! The unfavorable environment and people's negative attitude toward Cuju are enough to explain why it failed to flourish and become a national sport.
Foreign visitor #1: China might have lost generations of brilliant players. I mean, it's a shame their techniques and skills have not been handed down to us.
Local volunteer: It is a pity but not so much, for football, the modernized form of Cuju, has found its way back to China. As football has become one of the most popular sports in this country, China boasts a large number of fans. We are very much encouraged by the fact that people of all ages have been so enthusiastic and supportive of the sport, and I'm convinced that this variation of the ancient sport of Cuju will not only be rejuvenated in China, but also be carried forward and refined by the coming generations.
Foreign visitor #2: Very well said. Why don't we get out to the hall and see the exhibits?
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