The other day, when I was watching the Euro 2008 like everybody else here, I was distracted from what was happenening on the pitch by what was happening on the stadium stands. It was really impressive to see how football fans from different countries applauded uniformly in their own way to support their teams. I tried to think about how we usually do that in China, but unfortunately I couldn’t find a general, widely-accepted way.

And there was the problem now. What about the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, are we going to perform as individually and as silently as usual? How should Chinese spectators applaud together to build a sound atmosphere during the matches?

Obviously someone else had the same concern, because recently the BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad), together with other relevant authorities, co-promoted the introduction of the Olympic 4-step - an officially approved set of hand gestures and slogans to be used during the Olympics…

An “approved” cheer consists of four steps:

Step 1: “Clap twice, cheer “Aoyun” (”Olympics”).”

Step 2: “Make fists with both hands, but keep the thumbs pointed upwards, extend both arms into the air, cheer “Jiayou” (”Go”).”

Step 3: “Clap twice, cheer “Zhongguo” (”China”).”

Step 4: “Make fists with both hands, extend both arms into the air, cheer “Jiayou” (”GO”).”

Of course, fans can change the slogans as they wish, and the hand gestures are also only recommended, but not compulsory. (Editor’s note: Thank God. How nice of them.) I just tested them myself, and honestly, I wish they had come up with something more creative…

Image credits: xinhuanet