Editor's note: Rabi Sankar Bosu is an Indian contributor to Chinese media outlets. He writes about Chinese politics, social and cultural issues, and China-India relations with a special interest in the Belt and Road Initiative. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN. 

"Don't miss Tokyo" could have been the slogan of the summer around the world as the greatest sporting spectacle under the sun. The Tokyo Olympic Games is running until August 8. But the gloomy atmosphere of the COVID-19 pandemic has made the delayed Olympics without spectators.

However, with the Olympic fever the world has united to pay homage to the beautiful game as the 32nd Olympic Games was officially inaugurated by Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the National Stadium in Tokyo on July 23.

Winning medals at the Olympics is a big dream for athletes all over the world. With 431 athletes, including 24 Olympic champions, China also gets an opportunity to present proudly its achievements with its vibrant Olympic traditions at the Tokyo Olympics.

Over the years, China's Olympic performance has enthralled the whole world. The complete success of the 29th Beijing Olympic Summer Games in 2008, which was hailed by then-International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge as "truly exceptional," showed the whole world China's great potential for economic growth and remarkable achievements in sports. In 2008, Chinese athletes made the country proud by winning 51 gold medals in a tally of 100 medals, and coming first in front of their home crowd. China's all-conquering performance in diving, weightlifting, table tennis, gymnastics, shooting and badminton at the Olympics has earned much praise from sports-loving people across the world.

Up to the Tokyo Olympics, China has participated in ten Summer Olympics after its legal status was reinstated by the IOC in 1979. China won a total of 237 gold, 195 silver and 176 bronze up to the 2016 Rio Olympics. The medals were the products of the undaunted courage and indomitable efforts of the Chinese athletes.

The excellent performance by China's athletes at the Olympic Games and other sporting events on the world stage clearly shows that China is no longer a mere participating country in international tournaments, but a leading sports nation in recent years.

China has given utmost importance to its sports sector as a top soft power priority. The country redoubled its investments to provide its athletes access to the best training and world-class sports facilities. China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) raised the share of China's GDP spent on the sports industry. China's State Council announced plans in October 2014 to develop China's sports industry into one of the largest markets in the world. According to the plan, China set the goal of raising the sector's annual output to five trillion yuan ($810 billion USD) by 2025. According to the General Administration of Sport of China, the sports industry in the country contributed 1.1 percent to the GDP in 2018, up from 0.8 percent in 2015. According to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), China has pledged to be a leading sports power and turn the sports industry into one of the pillars of the national economy.

Many Chinese companies have also been sponsoring domestic talents, helping them become sports heroes for the country. Receiving government support as well as public support, Chinese athletes have successfully established the country's reputation as a leading sports nation.

Up to August 4, China's athletes have grabbed 32 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze medals from the world's biggest jamboree, making their country proud.

Despite China's mixed doubles table tennis team's heartbreaking loss to Japan, Chinese people celebrate their athletes' performances in the spirit of sport. Here, a quote of the Guangming Daily needs to be mentioned that reflects Chinese people's passion for the Olympics and strong support for their athletes:

"Where there is a playing field for athletes, there is a playing field for audiences – to show grace and decency, and the respect for sports no matter in victory or defeat."

Undoubtedly, the way Chinese audiences and the Chinese media embrace their athletes' victory and defeat truly exhibits the Olympic spirit of China which, without doubt, will be further displayed at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

However, there are some Western media publications and international politicians who hold the opposite views of China's Olympic success and contribution to the great cause of the Olympic movement. Needless to say, China's bright performances at the ongoing Olympics is a fitting reply to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who called for a "diplomatic boycott" of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics citing China's so-called "human rights abuses" in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and other issues.

On the other hand, harping on the U.S. antagonism toward China, The New York Times in an article entitled, "The Chinese Sports Machine's Single Goal: The Most Golds At Any Cost," published on July 29, belittled China's achievements at the Olympics. Quite rightly, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian slammed the nasty tricks of U.S. lawmakers on July 28 by stating that some U.S. politicians have been engaging in attempting "to smear and discredit China in an attempt to interfere with and hinder the preparation and holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics.”

The United States and its media are so obsessed with their Olympic records that they cannot stomach the fact that China, as a developing country, can also excel in the sports arena where the U.S. once reigned. As IOC President Thomas Bach said, "The unifying power of the Olympic Games is to bring the world together in peaceful competition." Time has come for the world to guard against the despicable attempts of the U.S. administration to politicize sports, the Olympic Games in particular.

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