Jia Zhanbo

As China witnessed defeat in some of its top events, such as women's soccer, many blamed state media for creating a tense atmosphere and putting pressure on athletes.

"The theory is that any loss must be due to some psychological problem affecting their performance," the semiofficial China News said Aug. 23.

"It's like Cultural Revolution rhetoric that 'losing represents low-class consciousness' or 'love for the proletariat isn't deep enough.' "

Gold medals can be won and lost by mere fluke, it said -- a point illustrated Aug. 22 when American shooter Matthew Emmons gave up certain gold to China's Jia Zhanbo by inadvertently firing at the wrong target.

"The respect shown to losers reflects the cultural level of a nation and its people," the China Daily said. "Winners are heroes, but losers are not traitors."

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 28, 2004
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