Locals await China's debut

Sufeng Tian scheduled her trip back home two months too early.

If she had waited, the 2008 World Olympics would be waiting for her, said the native of Shandong, China.

"My friends said they had two tickets for me. They asked me, 'Want to come back home?' I wish I could," said Ms. Tian, who visited China in May. "We used to watch it all the time in China. I'm so proud to watch it (being held) in my country."

She might have missed her chance at witnessing the spectacle in person, but Ms. Tian, like many other native Chinese in the area, plan to watch the opening ceremonies in Beijing on television today. Some hope the world's biggest sports competition will not be outshone by the politics surrounding it or by misconceptions about their culture.

"This will provide a chance for all people to see what it is that China is about," said Ms. Tian, who helps her husband run Jin Long Oriental Market on Bobby Jones Expressway. "We're a unique culture with very friendly, welcoming people. We've gotten a lot better."

Changing the views about Chinese culture and government have not been easy, said Wenbo Zhi, who moved from Henan, China, three years ago.

"I think there's still a lot of mystery surrounding us, so I think this is a good opportunity to change that," Mr. Zhi said.

Since the economy reformed in the 1980s, there has been a change in Chinese government and culture, said Mr. Zhi, who is the president of the Medical College of Georgia's Chinese Student and Scholars Association. The government made a gradual transition from a strictly communist nation to one that offers more civil liberties, he said.

The earthquake in Sichaun, China, in May, which killed more than 70,000 people, was likely the first time in recent history Westerners were able to see the change in Chinese government, Mr. Zhi said.

"It was terrible for the families and those who lost their lives, but I think that people could see how responsive the government could be and how open they were with the number of deaths and all the information," he said.

The time, money and preparation invested in the Beijing Games proves the nation wants to open up its doors to all people, said Guang Yang, who moved from Shaanxi, China, a little more than a year ago. Beijing's infrastructure, industry and even water quality were upgraded in the past several years to ready the city for a worldwide stage, Mr. Yang said.

Ms. Tian agreed.

"They've put gardens at the walkways. The traffic was bad, that has changed," she said. "They've gone though such a process to show people how we've advanced."

The only drawback for visitors and natives, Mr. Yang said, will be the limited road access to and from Beijing.

"I think the Chinese government is doing everything to ensure safety. There was just an attack on Chinese policemen a few days ago," he said. "So, it may be inconvenient, but I think safety is very important, especially for the opening ceremonies."

A safe and competitive Olympics is what Mr. Yang is hoping for, he said. The highlight for him will come in the form of an American export.

"I love basketball. I want to see Kobe Bryant," he said. "The Olympics is just for sports fans who want to enjoy. We don't want to see people fighting about politics. It is just a game."

Mr. Zhi said he hopes the millions of international fans will keep in mind an old Chinese adage.

"There's an old Chinese saying that translates as, 'You should doubt what you heard, but trust what you see.' I hope that's what everyone does when they come there."

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.