A History Trip to the Year 2008

 By Zhong Wanting

The bell rang out across the playground, chivying us back to our revolving classrooms. Sliding back into our comfortable soft seats, we put on our headsets to enter the next session.

Switching to the classroom mode, the gentle voice of our history teacher resounded in the room, ‘Today, we are going back through history to the year 2008, when the Olympic Games was first ever held in China ……  You will each become a volunteer in the days 100 years ago, to experience the excitement of our first Olympics …… ’

A soft buzz echoed in my ears, hurling me into a swirl of brilliant colors. In an instant, I found myself back on solid ground, with the bright summer sunlight dazzling in my eyes. I shook my head and looked around.

I was standing in a grand sports field, with the bustle of an excited crowd surrounding me. People with banners of all sorts were milling about in the stands, the colorful little flags shining on their expectant faces. I joined the spectators moving toward the race tracks, waiting to witness one of the most captivating events in this year’s Olympics —— the 110-meter men’s hurdles race.

We were looking on with hearts full of anticipation, for although we had already watched the 2008 Olympics documentaries many times, we had never tried actually being there ourselves. Everything in this simulated experience felt as real as if we were truly residents of the early 21st century.

The bang of the starting pistol. Dust kicked up on the tracks. Leaping figures so powerfully carved into our eyes. It was as if youth and vigor were bursting out right in front of us, on the race tracks leading on to pursuit.

A simultaneous roar erupted from the stands, as a wave of red suddenly sprang from the seats, screaming their great happiness and excitement. The man who had first set China’s, as well as the entire Asian continent’s, wings free, had yet again surpassed the limit! Hitting the finish line first, putting considerable distance between him and the next athlete, the young man named Liu Xiang had once again raced to the top of the world! As a Chinese citizen, I once again felt deeply proud and moved, even though I had already watched this scene many times. Perhaps it was the excitement of the real event that had evoked my feelings. Perhaps it was the Chinese blood already boiling inside my veins.

After the hurdles, we went to a few other events, such as diving and table tennis. Everybody was unwilling to leave in the end.

The recess bell was just ringing when I was returned to 2108 through the same whirl of colors. In front of me, emerging slowly on the screen, were the lines, ‘The 2008 Beijing Olympics was one of the most successful and memorable Olympics of all time. That year, China reached the top of the medals chart …… One world, One dream, this is the slogan we must remember forever ……. ’

     广东实验中学  初三（1）班  钟琬婷