If this were a fairy tale, the story may start with: Once upon a time in a distant land, a sleeping dragon began to wake as it moves its limbs and shakes its tail to disperse the remnants of its deep slumber.

There is definitely evidence that this fairy tale is reality, and the sleeping dragon is China. We are not addressing the economic or social impacts of this awakening; rather, the phenomenal impact China is having on the global athletics arena, in particular the Olympics, and what is the root cause of this awakening.

China participated in the modern Olympics for the first time in 1932 as the Republic of China and competed in only one event. The People’s Republic of China sent an Olympic delegation for the first time for the 1952 games in Helsinki, Finland. The delegation consisted of only one athlete competing in one event.

After boycotting the Olympics for almost 30 years, China re-emerged for the 1984 summer games in Los Angeles, CA, USA. The Chinese delegation consisted of 216 athletes competing in 19 events. China came in fourth for the overall medals total, finishing with 32, 15 of which were gold.

Over the course of the next few decades China’s Olympic performance would wax and wane from fourth to eleventh for overall medals. During this time period (and prior) their approach to physical fitness (as was the case with most of their societal functions as well) was decidedly Western or “modern”. The Chinese athletes trained in the same manner as any European, American or Russian teams, often recruiting coaches and trainers from those very same countries.

This approach lasted until after the 2000 Olympics’. Over the course of the next 8 years, China made a dramatic decision to change their training programs for all Olympic and sports training. This dramatic change was initiated by top officials in the government, when they came to the realization that instead of chasing the Western nations, China should lead by example as they did throughout history, with the exception of the last 100-150 years. The official government policy was to embrace their heritage and history (all 8,000+ years of it), instead of destroying it and replacing it with the “ways of younger nations”. China would now embark on an ambitious strategy to once again become the world leader in health & fitness among many other things.

Qigong and the Tao of Revitalization

After much research the Chinese government declared that coaches (Olympic and non-Olympic) would have to receive training in the ancient Taoist art of Qigong. Along with the coaches, physical therapy would also primarily be based on Chinese Medicine, Chinese Massage (Tui-Na), Qigong, Tai Chi and Taoist Philosophy. This new training regimen would integrate the ancient arts with some western training components.

What were the results?

In the 2004 summer Olympic games in Athens, Greece, China sent a delegation consisting of 384 athletes competing in 26 sports. They shocked the world with 32 gold, 17 silver and 14 bronze medals, for a total of 63 medals and second place in the overall medal count.

After these impressive results the Chinese increased their pursuit and training in the ancient arts of Taoism. Training was increased exponentially leading up to the Amazing 2008 Beijing Olympics (which will be discussed thoroughly in a separate article). In the 2008 games, the host country had an impressive and massive delegation consisting of 639 athletes competing in 28 sports. The results speak for themselves: 51 Gold, 21 Silver, 28 Bronze, for a total of 100 medals and First Place in the overall medal count.

What can we expect for the 2012 London Games?

China wants to build on what they achieved in the 2004 and 2008 games, they are even more motivated and determined to prove that they made the right decision in getting back in touch with their ancient roots and the arts that made them famous throughout history. The 2012 games will see a streamlined, focused and dedicated delegation that includes 396 athletes competing in 23 sports. The Chinese goals include maintaining their dominance in gymnastics, diving and table tennis to name a few and to expand into and shock the world with their performance in other events as well.

No matter what country you are from, or whom you are cheering for, let us all pray for a safe Olympic Games, where no harm comes to the athletes or spectators. An Olympics that features the world’s finest athletes doing what they do best, and proving to the world that we can come together and compete in ways other than war and politics.

The National Taoism Examiner also prays that after experiencing the tremendous physical benefits of the Taoist Arts, the people will be inspired to rediscover and cultivate the mental and spiritual aspects as well.

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