BEIJING — This story is a familiar one: China was devastated by the earthquake that hit Sichuan Province on May 12, instantly killing thousands and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.
Yet this one is obvious and refreshing as the drama unfolds in the Chinese capital: Day after day, the 2008 Beijing Games is bringing much-needed joy and inspiration to the region's survivors and lifting the nation's spirit as a whole.
China's team triumph in the men's artistic gymnastics final was the biggest sports news on Tuesday afternoon, a symbolic victory for this very reason: Team gymnastics requires patience and hard work, dedication and a never-ending commitment to a larger cause, the essential things needed in Sichuan Province.