The body beautiful（China from a istory of sports perspective）演讲稿.docVIP

THIS TRANSCRIPT IS ISSUED ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS TAKEN FROM A LIVE EVENT. THE NATURE OF THE EVENT MEANS THAT NEITHER THE BBC NOR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAMME CAN GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION HERE. SUE LAWLEY: Hello and welcome to Lords Cricket Ground in London for the last in this years series of BBC Reith Lectures. This is one of the worlds most famous sports grounds, which in 2012 will play an important part in Londons hosting of the Olympic Games. Thats still four years away; but in only six weeks time, this years Olympic Games will opening Beijing and its that connection which brings us to the home of cricket today. The subject of these lectures is Chinese Vistas. So far weve heard how the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius still influences Chinese behaviour today. Weve been to the oldest Chinese community in Europe in Liverpool to learn about Britains relationship with China, and to New York to try to understand how America will come to terms with its new, powerful Asian rival. Now we bring the lectures to a close by looking ahead to the eighth day of the eighth month in 2008 when the world will be focusing on China more closely than ever before. By hosting the Olympic Games in Beijing, China has opened itself up to international scrutiny. Like it or not, the games are forcing it to the centre of the world stage where everything about it is being judged and weighed minutely. Our lecturer is one of the worlds greatest authorities on China and in this, our final programme, he examines Chinas attitudes to sport and athleticism; what hes called The Body Beautiful. Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome the BBCs 2008 Reith lecturer: Professor Jonathan Spence.(APPLAUSE) JONATHAN SPENCE: Thank you and thank you for coming. In this, the fourth of the Reith series, as Sue said Ill be exploring the theme the Body Beautiful. And my idea here was to somehow try and give a long range view into Chinas past, to link it