I’m having too much fun comparing Olympics media coverage in China and the US 🍿
In case you weren’t aware, Olympic sports is a state-owned industry in China. The nation threw big money into training top athletes.
Why? It’s a fantastic governance tool 👇
In case you weren’t aware, Olympic sports is a state-owned industry in China. The nation threw big money into training top athletes.
Why? It’s a fantastic governance tool 👇
When you’re a centralized authority, you want your people to be die-hard nationalists. You want to create the mindset of “we’re in this together”, to “make China great again”. When people have common identity, they don’t fight among themselves and that makes your job easier.
Sports are powerful emotional events that bond people together. You’re smart. So you leverage that.
It’s never about the sports. It’s always about national spirit and common goal.
So you invest heavily in sports. Every four years, your investment gets a big pay day.
It’s never about the sports. It’s always about national spirit and common goal.
So you invest heavily in sports. Every four years, your investment gets a big pay day.
Your media outlets go to town. They promote every win of your athletes as evidence of how great your country has become.
Of course it goes without saying that all this greatness happened under your leadership. Loyalty to China = loyalty to you.
Of course it goes without saying that all this greatness happened under your leadership. Loyalty to China = loyalty to you.
If you don’t read Chinese, here are some snippets from People’s Daily, the state’s #1 media outlet.
This one says “We’re so proud because every Olympic win of China is earned through so much hard work…” i.e. We are such a great people.
This one says “We’re so proud because every Olympic win of China is earned through so much hard work…” i.e. We are such a great people.
If athletes lose a game, it’s ok. “The Chinese people see your sacrifice (to earn pride for China in the world)… We accept the setback so that we can become stronger. And we march forward as a people together…”
This is also an excellent opportunity to educate your people of good working-class values.
“Inspired by the athletes? They do well because they work hard, overcome fear, set goals and never give up. You should do the same with your life…”
In other words, don’t be a loser.
“Inspired by the athletes? They do well because they work hard, overcome fear, set goals and never give up. You should do the same with your life…”
In other words, don’t be a loser.
Setting any ideology aside, I have to say these are smart and tasteful propagandas. With one sports event, the state achieves multiple goals—
1 bond people together
2 give them a sense of pride
3 showcase the great party leadership
4 boost productivity among the people
1 bond people together
2 give them a sense of pride
3 showcase the great party leadership
4 boost productivity among the people
A homogeneous people that “march forward together” may make boring dinner guests. But they’re surely a hell of a lot easier to govern than freedom fighting rascals. And it helps the CCP to deliver on its promise of social stability.
In contrast, if you look at the Olympics coverage of US media…
It’s a sports event at the beginning. It remains a sports event at the end.
All I can say is the two countries are very different. What works in one doesn’t work in the other. To each their own.
It’s a sports event at the beginning. It remains a sports event at the end.
All I can say is the two countries are very different. What works in one doesn’t work in the other. To each their own.
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