As the Paris Olympics concludes, the world has been captivated by the young athletes of Team China for their personalities and passion, this was interpreted by experts as a showing of natural charm of the new generation and an integration of them into the public life.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Monday, Justin Downes, president of Axis Leisure Management noted how the athletes' smiles and interactions resonate with audiences globally.
"This is natural in this younger generation. People just love seeing them smile, looking at them interact with other athletes from other countries, you know, they're all, it's all part of this great community where they just love doing what they do and they love celebrating each other's success. And people feel for that and they really embrace that. It's great for our social fabric around the world to see these athletes, yes, beating tooth and nail with each other to try to win medals. But at the end of the day, they're all colleagues and they're all doing this for the love of sport," said Downes.
Paul Dong, co-founder and sports industry observer of Ei Asia Limited, emphasized this evolution reflects a shift in Chinese sports, where athletes are now integral to public life.
"They have stronger personalities. And I think maybe even their teams and team management encourages them to interact well with their followers and their fans, and so we are seeing very diverse personalities among them, and some are very cooperative, some are very mild and supportive for the media. But some are kind of blunt and the public is now is indeed stakeholders in Chinese sports. Not like in the past, you know, 1980s and 90s, they watched sports and they got inspired, do well or better in their own businesses. But now it's different, it's sports, national sports, international representatives and also professional sports on the ground. They are part of the public life," said Dong.
Chinese athletes show natural charm of new generation, integration to public life: experts
Chinese athletes show natural charm of new generation, integration to public life: experts
Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.
The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.
The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.
Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.
"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.
"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.
He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.
"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.
"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.
"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.
Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires
