Games that won hearts and minds_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Games that won hearts and minds

The Beijing Summer Olympic Games proved to be a near-perfect success, not because the host country harvested the most gold medals and the second largest collection of all medals but because the Games perfectly illustrated the Olympic goals of being "faster, higher and stronger" and the ideals of "peace, friendship and progress".

The Beijing Games witnessed the largest number of new world records being set as compared with the previous Games and the least number of drug scandals in recent memories.

It was attended by all Olympic Movement members except Brunei - 204 countries and regions - and drew the largest number of athletes ever - 16,000 in total.

The Games was exciting for so many wonders and miracles it has generated, including the opening ceremony that "beats all superlative adjectives," the amazing haul of eight gold medals American swimmer Michael Phelps netted in the Water Cube and the unbelievable records of 9.69 seconds and 19.30 seconds Jamaican Usain Bolt set for 100m and 200m respectively at the Bird's Nest.

The Games was also inspiring and touching for its many impressive stories.

The spectators were moved to tears as 33-year-old gymnast Oksana Chusovitina from Germany beat rivals about half her age to win the women's vault silver medal. She said she wanted to win prizes to help her 9-year-old son who was suffering from leukemia.

The audience were also touched by the tenacious South African Natalie du Toit, the first amputee to compete in the Summer Olympic Games finals, who finished 16th in women's 10 kilometer marathon swim.