The successful organization of the Beijing Olympiad and the marvelous achievement of the Chinese athletes have combined to boost China's image, Mexican experts said Thursday.
"The most important is that China has fulfilled its promises in showing the world community its capacity to organize such a game," professor of the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) Natividad Gonzalez Chong told Xinhua.
The fact that China tops the medal table "reflects the efforts of all Chinese people and their government in at least the last 15 years," said Gonzalez, a specialist in social studies.
The Games showed "a high level of social cohesion" in the Chinese society and bore "proof to many years of good governance in the country which it is not something new, but something that has started decades ago," Gonzalez said.
According to Gonzalez, China showed its changes to the world as "it opens to the world ... It is no longer the remote country full of mysteries, it has displayed its cultural and technological advances and its respect for humanity."
The slogan, "One World, One Dream," the Chinese government chose for the Games reflects the determination of its authorities to protect the environment and to promote universal values of unity, friendship and peace, Gonzalez said.
"'One World, One Dream' reflected China's aspiration to accept and share social diversities across the world. This is a very important part of the current Games," Gonzalez said.
The Beijing Olympics definitely changed the world's perception about China, Romer Cornejo, professor of the Center of Studies for Asia and Africa at the College of Mexico, told Xinhua.
"China has proved that the security of the participating countries has always been guaranteed," Cornejo said, adding that athletes from countries in conflicts are also able to compete in harmony on the same arena.
The Olympics will reverse "some racists ideas against it. The highest number of gold medals won by China proved that this country is a champion" of the 29th Olympiad, Cornejo said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)