Chapter 1172: A shocking statement from the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games!
Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
At night.
Public opinion was divided.
"What kind of experts do they think they are!"
"They're even criticizing Teacher Zhang?"
"When the gold medal was taken away from us due to that incorrect call, why didn't any of them step forward?"
"Yeah, all they know is how to talk crap!"
"But Zhang Ye still shouldn't have tripped those referees."
"Zhang Ye only knows how to bring down our country's image!"
"Get lost! Never mind that the foreigners are criticizing him, even our own countrymen are also scolding him now?"
A scolding battle began!
Countless people were engaged in a fiery war of words!
The lights in Zhang Ye's Studio were all on as everyone worked overtime to handle the emergency PR. There was someone using the studio's official Weibo account to make clarifications, while others contacted local PR agencies that they were familiar with in an attempt to divert the public's attention. They were hoping that it could limit the amount of negative press brought upon Zhang Ye by this incident.
At this moment, Zhang Ye received an important call from the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. It was also the first time a leader of the Organizing Committee was contacting Zhang Ye regarding this incident. The person on the other end of the line was the vice-president of the Organizing Committee, Qi Yihai. He sounded quite serious over the phone.
Qi Yihai said: "Professor Zhang."
Zhang Ye simply replied: "President Qi."
Qi Yihai said: "Do you know how big of a mess you've created?"
"I know," Zhang Ye said calmly.
Qi Yihai sighed and said: "The phone lines here at Organizing Committee are blowing up with complaints as well as inquiries from the foreign media. Even the International Olympic Committee is questioning us."
Zhang Ye said: "This is down to my personal conduct and has nothing to do with you all."
Qi Yihai said: "How can it not have anything to do with us? Did you really think that you were just an audience member? Did you think that you were just representing yourself? You were invited by us to be the Olympic opening ceremony's main lead and represent China by singing onstage. Every action of yours represents China and the Olympic image! But you were really great, huh? Did you think of the consequences before you did that? Look at the public's opinion right now. The foreign media is scolding you, while the local experts, academics, and commentators have also criticized you. Even if it's not for anything else, shouldn't you at least think about your own reputation? Attacking referees on the first day of the Olympics? I've really never heard of something like that happening before!"
Zhang Ye spoke in a casual tone: "Are you done talking?"
Qi Yihai said: "Yes, I'm done!"
"Then it's my turn to speak." Zhang Ye's voice turned cold. "You've never heard of referees getting attacked before? I've also never heard of such blatant and malicious decisions being made against the Chinese on the first day of the Olympics!"
Qi Yihai was stumped!
Zhang Ye said loudly: "The gold medal that was supposed to be ours was lost because of a malicious call by the referees, and we weren't even allowed to appeal or change their decision due to the regulations. So you all shouldn't be asking me whether I thought about the consequences! You all should be asking whether those referees thought about it!"
Zhang Ye's voice alarmed everyone in the studio.
Everyone looked over in shock as they listened to Zhang Ye talking to the official from the Organizing Committee.
Qi Yihai said: "We could've communicated and resolved this matter with the relevant associations. You can't just beat up people and try to be a hero!"
"I'm not trying to be a hero, nor am I a hero," Zhang Ye said in seriousness while holding his cell phone to his ear. "Look at the other Olympics and look at the Olympics that we're organizing. I don't know where the problem lies, and I don't know why our countrymen are so disliked by other countries, but how many 'mistaken calls' in the history of the Olympics were resolved? How many cases were given an explanation in the end? Negotiate? Protest? What's the use of that?! I can't control the things that happened in the past, but do you think I can just pretend not to see what happened in front of my eyes? I can't do that!"
Qi Yihai said in a low and serious voice: "Your leg has helped the common folk to vent their anger, but what about you? Look at how many people are criticizing you."
Ha Qiqi looked over.
Zhang Zuo and the others looked Zhang Ye in the eyes.
They heard Zhang Ye bluntly speak: "I'm fine with that. I've always believed that the people need an occasional hero and that someone would have to step forward when there's a need. I can be the hero they need when one else is willing to do so. Even if being that 'hero' does not make me look good or causes me to get criticized for a lifetime, I'm fine with that, I'll…just accept it!"
When he heard that, Qi Yihai suddenly went quiet. He suddenly realized that he could not retort to that and even felt quite impressed.
You'll just accept it?
He knew how much that sentence from Zhang Ye meant!
Qi Yihai realized that they had acted like a clown regarding this matter!
Consequences?
Effects?
Responsibility?
Pressure from the public's opinion?
They were being too overly cautious and had too many considerations. Faced with Zhang Ye's "I'll just accept it," Qi Yihai could not say another a word!
After hanging up, Qi Yihai suddenly smiled.
He wanted to assuage the anger of the people even if it meant that he would be criticized for a lifetime?
So this was Zhang Ye?
Seeing was truly believing!
…
The next day.
The second day of the Olympics.
Early in the morning, Zhang Ye was already awake. Or rather, he did not sleep much at all. He went out early to buy breakfast for those who were still working overtime in the office.
"Come, let's have breakfast."
"Thank you, Director Zhang."
"Good morning, Director Zhang."
"You guys go ahead and eat breakfast. I need to get something done!"
Everyone had traces of tiredness on their faces.
Zhang Ye was touched by the sight but also felt bad. Because of his stubbornness, he had brought trouble to the people around him many times. Sometimes, even though Zhang Ye felt that he had a clear conscience about the things he did, he would feel somewhat apologetic whenever he thought of his friends, relatives, and colleagues around him.
The netizens were still arguing online!
The foreign media was still denouncing Zhang Ye!
Doubting voices were everywhere as all accusations got directed at Zhang Ye!
But at this moment, something happened that the local media and people could not have imagined. A sudden announcement shocked the world!
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games issued a statement:
After a study of the regulations, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games has decided to unilaterally overturn the rule of having no appeal process in the weightlifting event (only applicable to the Beijing Olympics).
After the Organizing Committee and the relevant international referees' associations held an emergency meeting, we have decided the Australian referee, Cooper, will be banned for life while the South Korean referee, Man Gyu, along with four other weightlifting referees will be suspended for two (2) years as punishment.
Accepted the appeal by the Chinese delegation with regards to the Men's 62 kg weightlifting event. After thorough communication and discussion, Li Jiaxi will be awarded the gold medal, with the North Korean athlete's medal changed to silver.
The three rulings shocked the entire world!
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games had made its move. This action stunned countless people!
The netizens were all stunned!
"What?"
"Holy shit!"
"This is too assertive! This is too fucking assertive!"
"Oh my god! Is this…is this true?"
"When have we ever been so assertive!"
"They unilaterally changed the regulations?"
"Li Jiaxi has been awarded the gold medal after the appeal went through?"
"The gold medal has been returned to the rightful champion?"
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Is that for real?"
"Holy shit! Holy shit! The Beijing Organizing Committee has handled this beautifully!"
"What is happening here? How could our Organizing Committee have possibly done something like that? Can someone tell me this is really happening? Am I dreaming or what?"
"Damn, I'm crying!"
"Me too, why can't I stop crying?"
"Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, you are absolutely the best! You are so awesome!"
"Here's a Like for you from the people across the country! Well done!"
"I'm so excited that I don't know what to say!"
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"Thank you, Zhang Ye! Thank you, Beijing Organizing Committee!"
"You're all heroes! All of you!"
The Chinese weightlifting team was dumbfounded!
Li Jiaxi was crying tears of joy. He immediately posted on Weibo to thank his motherland!
Many of the Chinese athletes Liked the post!
Many of the coaches applauded and cheered!
Many of the citizens were simply in disbelief!
…
At Zhang Ye's Studio.
Ha Qiqi was stunned. "This…this!"
Zhang Zuo exclaimed, "What's going on?"
Zhang Ye was also stunned at what he was seeing. He did not expect this either.
A call came in. It was from Qi Yihai!
Zhang Ye hurriedly picked it up. "Hello, President Qi!"
Qi Yihai said smilingly: "Have you seen the statement?"
"Yes, holy shit! What are you all trying to do?" Zhang Ye asked dumbfoundedly.
Qi Yihai said: "What do you mean by what are we trying to do? You were the one who stirred this up first. After my call to you yesterday, I thought for a very long time. Then, I conveyed everything that you said to me word for word to the higher-ups in a meeting. You saying that 'even if you get criticized for a lifetime, you'd just accept it' was enough to leave us unable to criticize you any further. Professor Zhang, we can also do what you were willing to do. Since you weren't afraid of getting criticized, then our Organizing Committee will not be afraid of getting criticized either! We're the Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympics, so how can we allow our athletes to get bullied in an Olympics held in our own backyard, in our own country? You're right. Isn't it just about getting criticized? Isn't it just about being doubted by the world media? We're not afraid of that either! We also accept it! When the people need us, we can be that 'hero' too!"
Zhang Ye chuckled. "Thank you."
Qi Yihai shook his head and said: "No, we should be the ones thanking you. Anyway, both you and our Organizing Committee will now have to bear the blame for the rest of our lives. When people speak of the Beijing Olympics in the future, there will definitely be countless foreign media outlets calling this the darkest Olympic Games ever. Beating up referees? Unilaterally changing the regulations? Switching the medal results? I think we will probably be remembered and criticized by a lot of people for the rest of our lives. You better be mentally prepared for it."
But Zhang Ye belly laughed. "You all are the ones who should be mentally prepared. I've already been scolded by enough people to last three lifetimes for the things that I did in the past few years, so what am I afraid of?"
Qi Yihai was tickled. "That's true. A heavy debt would not burden you any further."