What do you think of this sport story?

Question

featured here at

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/table_tennis/news?slug=dw-tabletennis082308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

I have the impression that the athletes back in China have the 'do or die' kind of attitude towards sports. When you lost, you are told; you owed it to the people, you suffered humiliation, you gotta go through mental torture to redeem yourself back again by winning it the next time. There was clearly a big attitude on the part of the coach when he said no other country's flag should be seen to ruin things off. Though I cherish very much the notion of competitiveness, but are they lacking the spirit of sportmanship...or I'm just wrong?

Everybody wants to win, but after you have done your best , and you still lose, shouldn't you just be rejoice and share in your opponent's win and work harder again, instead of adopting China's rhetoric that you owe it to your country or so and so.

Or I'm just wrong?

Answer 1

Every country has its own way of handling a winning or a defeating moment. Every competitor has their own way of dealing with success and/or defeat. In China defeat is very much a public ordeal, a defeat is the nations loss. Although it seems much different as the drama plays out in public it is not much different then the USA sharing in the loss by one of it's athletes. Nor the loss by an athlete in other countries around the world. The main difference is their responsibility to the state plays a bigger role then to their own ego it would make defeat easier to handle in some ways and more difficult in others!

It would be nice to think that winning does not matter that it is the competing that matters. If you compete your best, you should be happy and be happy for your competitors win. In good sportsmanship congratulate them and learn from the moment for the next time you compete.

Unfortunately there has always been a greater deal of importance placed on winning for ones country in the Olympics as opposed to the honour of competing with other individuals and nations! It kind of defeats the purpose of the Olympics in a way. Perhaps the most prestigious award in the Olympics should be The  Gold, Silver and Bronze Award for Sportsmanship!!!

Answer 2

i didnt read it. does that answer your question?