Thursday, May 08, 2008
Asian Triathlon Championship 2008 sidelights
The 2008 Asian Triathlon Championship was held May 2-3 in Guang Zhou's South China University Town, an island connected by overpasses from the airport for an hour ride. It was a pleasant trip all throughout with views of neat and modern buildings. New, luxury cars and buses abound, a strong sign of American/Chinese car partnership–Buick, Town and Country, among others.
The University Town is a modern complex of 10 universities, dorms and conference centers with hotel like facilities. It has wide roads of 6 to 8 lanes, parks, waterways, color coded buildings - one cluster for Chinese Medicine, one for Pharmaceutical Medicine, one for Fine Arts, one for IT, etc. Only one pagoda would remind us visitors that we are in Asia/China, aside from, of course, the signages in Chinese characters, with English translation.
Each university has its own sports center! We saw 3-4 huge stadiums in the town! In the middle of the island and cluster of 8 storey buildings is the Central Lake where triathlon was held. Aside from Guang Zhou, Shanghai has a smaller complex of 6 universities, so we were told.
Upon arrival in the hotel, it seemed to be a world of only young Chinese, from hotel staff, triathlon staff to student volunteers. They were friendly, upbeat and eager to practice their English skills with us, and with Asian triathletes, some not Asian looking, like the taller, blond-haired, blue-eyed ones from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Sky was hazy, seemed of smog, (it was humid), than fog but it didn't smell pollution, like from motor fumes. Very few cars roll in town, as dorms are available, with neat covered parking areas for bikes. There is bus and train stop for rides to downtown. Most students were out for the 3-day holiday. Labor Day used to be observed for 7 days!
China's progress is amazing. It is evolving to be the #1 in world economy by Y2020, a forecast first heard in the early 1990's from a world conference. We can see it evolving before our eyes. The triathlon was generously sponsored by the Guang Zhou Municipality, as one test event for the Asian Games in 2010, which they will host. Its friendly Vice Mayor and numerous Sports Bureau/government officials played hosting role actively. The organizing committee structure and physical set-up of the triathlon event in Central Lake was world class. Still has some room for improvement though. But quite a fast learner to adapt to western standards and best practices.
International Protocols blended well with Chinese rituals in the formal dinner for triathlon officials, as were also in the opening and closing/awarding ceremonies. Quite a number of speeches, with interpreters, who knew their craft' ethics well to move away from picture taking. Lots of spring flower decors, and attractive Chinese ladies in cheong sam. Visiting ladies could be enticed to wear one.
It was a good venue for the Asian Triathlon Championships.