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Listed below are comments made by Lereon between Monday, 18th August 2008 and Thursday, 21st August 2008.

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London must be HIP Games 4:18pm on 21 Aug 2008 You simply can't get the whole city involved in such a party, no matter how grand it is, when everyone still has a busy life to go on.

The only thing that all Chinese do together in recent years, as far as I remember, was the hearbreaking three-minute memorial given to those who left this land in a sudden during the ruthless Sichuan quakes. That was a real 13 billion people's moment, shedding tears together and thinking what they could do for those who suffered.

So far, more than enough passion and attention have been given to the Olympics, showing our sincere motives to welcome and delight the world, not out of a political show. We do feel love for sports. And the love is backed by an ordinary and devoted normal life. Away from venues and telly, Chinese just don't feel like showing carnival-like cheers and being bothered so much by the party. Too many people here, and too many things to deal with.

As for the high-tech concern, I do agree with you to some extent. But it is also worth noting here that the organizers may have erected more TV screens in other cities of China other than Beijing, with the purpose of making people feel that these games are not just for Beijing but for the country. That surely cost money, and it worked. My hometown is in the south, and I've been told many times by folks there that they enjoy watching games with friends and families on big screens by main streets. Beijing has heated venues, outside the city people also share the zeal.

That day I went to the village as a spectator, I found food there served to a spectator was a bit shabby. Perhaps the organizers has some other kind of concern. I just choose to take the fast subway, getting a nice lunch somewhere not far.

If you stay in China longer, you will find the Chinese don't complain much. Sometimes foreign friends may get distorted understandings when chatting with some Chinese here in English. They really shouldn't take their words seriously, because lots of Chinese just have limited English skills. They are eager to speak English, but they don't quite care what they say as long as the language practice is done. It's really not working as communication. This funny situation is certainly improving, but still needs a long time to turn out a new look.

Hope you enjoy more of China. Good luck.
The moment Liu Xiang broke Chinese hearts 10:19pm on 18 Aug 2008 The reality is, we do not take his withdrawal as serious as you describe. The moment Liu left may seem a bit frustrating, but that was just a natural response to a hopeful star any nation would have.

The whole nation's mentality have changed a lot over the past decades and turned out hugely different from many Westerners' stereotyped speculations. It's silly to make any one dimensional judgement on this populous and diverse country.

If anything about national pride or host's face, we have already got an invincible gold medal haul with many breakthroughs. But what's so important of that? It's all for the perfection of this grand summer party that stages every four years, featuring Liu's drama as the stunning climax.

More Olympic, isn't it?
How do you spot a future Olympic star? 9:24pm on 18 Aug 2008 For an athlete, no matter how much "fun and frolics" are given up to your training, he or she will be gradually compensated by the invaluable growing experiences and ecstasies that only a true athlete has the privilege to enjoy.

Your cynicism of China's talent identification schemes is a bit unprofessional. Regarding China's huge population and tight job oppotunities, such schemes are supposed to offer a possible decent life to those who are physically good, not simply to win honour for the nation. Some sacrifice of normal"childhood fun and frolics" is just inevitable for any professional sportman. In China, starting at a younger age and affording more time gives an athlete more chances to achieve among the massive number of domestic competitors. After all, a decent life in China is never easily won.

If you are physically fit for gymnastics and have some passion for sportmanship, you will be more than willing and feel lucky when chosen by a talent centre like Shichahai Sports Shool, which has the pedigree of training Olympic stars. It marks your basic specialty and excellence that not just a Chinese may desire.

Yes only the minority of them will stand out achieved, this is just a rule for all competitive sports, and if not overrated, a rule for the whole Chinese competitive panorama. You just have to get better and better to outperform others. Such atmosphere is furious and encouraging. When you are involved in an undeniable new power base on earth, with so many possibilities plus so many challenges, you simply can never think too much before you try, the reality just pushes you.

As a professional journalist from west, you really should go deep in their ongoing life and their mentality, not some stiff stereotype only believeing the Chinese are all robot-like, before your raise questiones and make judgements. I guess you have alrealdy got some idea of the Chinese young generation during this Olympics. They do not talk much about politics, simply because they do not care. With so much to do in a huge dynamic country, why should they care so much about politics in the first place? What they want is to be individually excellent, and they all have their own plans of life.

As for Liu Xiang's withdrawal from the 110m hurdles, the nation is not as crushed as you described. You can just find out how it is genuinely responded on web, tolerence and best wishes simply outweigh. People here is growing increasingly realistic, and I hope you western journalits can grow as well, and if possible, make less age-old political fuss.

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