China will Become the Center for Global Olympic Collection
-------Li Xiang
The remarkable 29th Olympic Games has gone away from us gradually. However the spectacular opening and closing ceremony as well as the brilliant competition achievement made the world witness an ancient and newly rising Beijing. Beijing Olympic will be fixed in the glorious Olympic history forever. Olympic, the vocabulary which was quite unfamiliar for the Chinese years ago, is now known to everybody. The victory of 2008 Olympics has brought changes in many fields and had a profound impact on Beijing and the whole China. The Olympic economy including the representative project TOP (the Olympic Partner) has attracted the eyes of world’s top companies and national economy sector, while the Olympic cultures including Olympic collection has enabled ordinary people to have a sense of Olympic identity.
Stimulated by Beijing Olympics the number of collectors has increased rapidly in a short term though sports collection industry started quite late in China. Sports collection, especially Olympic collection has achieved a qualitative leap forward from the start to the prosperity. Although Beijing Olympics was over, Olympic collection has become Chinese Olympic collection market force.
The Chinese had collection hobbies and customs since ancient times. Collection enthusiasts were all over the royal family and the folk. There were a wide range of all inclusive collection categories. From all types of metal apparatus to pottery, porcelain, jade, stone, books, paintings, pens and inkstone, etc. In the past the collectors were called players and the successive kings were the greatest players at that time such as Liangyuan Emperor Xiaoyi, Songhuizong Zhaojie, Qinggaozong Hongli(Qianlong) etc. In addition, many reputable cultural celebrities and elites such as Song Dynasty Ouyangxiu, couple of Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao, Modern Lu Xun, Zhang Bo-ju, Lao She, Zhang Daqian. Not only the collection was tremendous, but also have outstanding achievements in many fields, which had been hailed as the mount of Chinese cultural plateau. It could be seen that China had a very strong collection foundation and tradition.
However Olympic collection has just risen. Will people’s passion for the Olympic collection continue? Is the emerge of huge collection group just an accidental phenomena? What is the trend of Chinese Olympic collection market in the years after the end of the Olympic Games? The author analyzed comprehensive factors of international and domestic Olympic collection, compared the comprehensive performance before and after the Olympics and made a conclusion that China will become one of the global Olympic collection and transaction’s centers.
一． Beijing Olympics popularized Olympic collections and created Olympic collection
movement for the whole nation
Through the modern Olympic movement development process since 1896, we can confidently tell the whole world: so far there has not any session of Olympic Games that can attracted public attention as wide as Beijing Olympics. It is not doubt that China is the world’s most populous country and Chinese is all over the world. Beijing was firstly the strong focus of all the Chinese for having hosted the Olympics; it is no doubt that Chinese modern modernization has made brilliant achievements for 30 years since the reform and opening. Beijing Olympics is a world window for the world and that is the most important reason for attracting worldwide attention to China. China’s tremendous cohesion and centripetal force, Chinese national pride and confidence are the source of the infinite creativity. Through the platform of Beijing Olympics, we offer the world the most sumptuous feast of cultures and brought together the world’s attention.
The worldwide Beijing Olympic Games promoted Olympic collection to the whole nation. According to the statistics, after the Olympic licensing scheme was started, totally over 8000 types of Olympic licensed products, 40 sub-categories and 12 major categories were issued. The licensed products full of enterprise creativity and individual wisdom is the essence of times. Under the effective operation and management of Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee and through the sales network all over the country(7000 franchise outlets). A huge Olympic collection market was born in China. Over 200 million people became the Olympic souvenir followers, buyers, owners and collectors consciously and unconsciously. This figure is more than half of the American population and one third of the European countries.
Compared with the traditional collection market which grows mildly, the Olympic collection surge rapidly. This does not merely embody the deep waking of public collection awareness. Olympic collection has become another channel to express national pride which is the participation and support for Beijing Olympics. Beijing Olympic gold, commemorative silver plate, the 29th Olympic Games World Stamp album, Olympic China red porcelain, Olympic Chinese name insignia and others have all become classical collections.
The versions and quantities of the media coverage on Olympic cultural knowledge and published Olympic books have created the most in Olympic history during the biding, preparing and hosting the Olympics. “Sports Collection Expo”, “Olympic Collection” and other sports、Olympic collection monograph had been issued for the first time.
The nationwide Olympic collection has laid a foundation for the collection’s sediment and set the stage for the formation of an independent Olympic collection categories and industries as well as the continuous upgrading value.
二．Chinese cultures have enriched Olympic collection and promoted the comprehensiveness
of Olympic collection
There are more than 8000 kinds of Beijing Olympic licensed products issued by Olympic Organizing Committee in the short period of four to five years, covering all aspects of social life. Five thousand years of Chinese cultures are fully excavated and displayed through the window of Olympic Games souvenirs. Almost any of the favorite cultural elements can be found in the Olympic souvenirs: gold coin、 silver plate、 stamps、 bronze seal、 jade seal、 badge、 literature、 stationary、 ceramics、 clothing、shoes and hats、 toys、 life appliances as well as Chinese painting、 oil painting and sculpture of Olympic theme. These colorful collectibles and souvenirs full of oriental aesthetic taste and cultural heritage sketched out the spirit of ancient civilizations by multi-arts approach. It also greatly inspired people to care、to appreciate、 to possess and to collect.
Art knows no borders while cultures complement each other for common prosperity. During the Olympic Games when friends from five continents were marvelous at the ancient and modern architectures full of manifestation of oriental charm, famous mountain and cultural landscape, the Olympic souvenirs and collectibles displaying a full range of five thousand years of Chinese culture essence have won passionate pursuit of international friends. A wide range of Olympic collectibles tell the world: Chinese cultures are extensive and profound!
三．Economic development boosts Olympic collection and contributes to Olympic
collection’s globalization.
On November 10th, 2001, The Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference considered and adopted the decision of China’s accession to the WTO by all the consensus, so that Chinese economy has formed an inseparable partnership with the world. The last bulwark for the Chinese economy to the world was removed and ushered in the era of Chinese economy’s globalization. But for the public, the news was not as exciting as the message passed from Moscow: Beijing Olympic bid was successful.
In the next seven years, Chinese economy developed rapidly and well-off society building in China has achieved initial results. The living standard of urban and rural residents has substantially increased. Along with Chinese rapid economic development, Chinese collection market recovered comprehensively; the number of collectors has surged; the calligraphy with long history、porcelain、jade、bronze ware、 coins、 stamp are popular in the market, auction records are constantly refreshed; the value of collectibles have upgraded ten times in the few years; from CCTV to the local TV program’s treasure hunt, identifying treasure TV show began to hit……collection was almost popular all over China overnight.
Although the above collection activities have lasted for a long time, they were subject to many factors and could not go overseas and sweep the whole world. Whether it is collectors or collection organizations at all levels, they are all lack of the strength to create a global collection market. Because of the internationalism of Olympic movement, Olympic collectibles were born to uphold international property, which is different from other collectibles. With the end of the licensing scheme of Beijing Olympics, Olympic merchandise can be freely traded in any place, and this provides conditions for Olympic collection’s greater prosperity. As China has continuously improved its status in the world political arena and overall national strength is growing, coupled with the success of the Beijing Olympics, China has the strength to become international Olympic collectibles trading center. It seems now that the formation of China Olympic collection globalization is just a matter of time.
For eight years, China collection market is booming, and Olympic collection internationalization is certain. It is because of brilliant achievements made by Chinese economy construction for the 30 years since the reform and opening. Chinese economy globalization process provides conditions for Chinese collectibles especially Olympic collectible’s global development.
四．Collection organizations guide the Olympic collection and hasten the birth of overall Olympic Games collection
In 1990, China Sports Museum was completed and sports collection has special official institution. In 1995 Sports Souvenir Collection Committee China Collector Association was established and China folk sports collection started off. The number of people engaged in the sports collection was very few till 2004 and collectors engaged in Olympic theme collection were even less. In 2005, the launching of Olympic comprehensive licensing scheme has changed this situation. Olympic collection is no longer the matter of a small number of people; other categories of collectors began to intervene. Investors began to intervene; gifts operators began to intervene; and more Olympic enthusiasts begin to intervene. On Feb 11th , Xiamen Olympic Museum, one of the twelve members of the International Olympic Museum Network and the first Olympic Museum entitled “Olympics” in China, was completed and officially opened. In 2009, Tianjin Olympic Museum which is also one of the members of International Olympic Museum network, was opened in 2009. Olympic collection is growing stronger in the vast land of China and will write a new chapter.
Faced with such a huge Olympic collection group, it is very important to establish and improve sports collection organization and institution. In the institution building and leading sports collection and Olympic collection, there are two pioneers: one is the former director of Sports Souvenir Collection Committee China Collection Association and the first Curator of China Sports Museum, Mr. Gu Bingfu. After the retirement the couple were engaged in the sports collection activities and organized eight sessions of China Sports Collectible Exhibitions. He polished spark of Chinese sports collection. The other is Mr. Ching-kuo Wu, International Olympic Committee member, International Treasure Committee Member and International Boxing Association President. He made investment personally and took the collectibles he accumulated for more than 20 years as the exhibits. He established two Olympic Museums in Xiamen and Tianjin and acted as the curator, which is unique in the history of world sports and International Olympics. Because of this, Mr. Ching-kuo Wu has gained great support and high praise from IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and Rogge. Over the past one year, Xiamen Olympic Museum has received tourists from home and abroad continuously. Foreign and domestic related institution, leaders, experts, scholars and enthusiasts made special visits. Recently it was awarded “Private Museum of the Year“ through the selection. It has gone beyond the category and field, crossed regions and national boundaries. It promoted China and World Olympic collections.
The booming Olympic collection group pushed by the Olympics needs the guidance by the strong collection organization to complete the transition towards mature and perfection, to consolidate the collection achievement and to stabilize the collection team. Xiamen Olympic Museum, Tianjin Olympic Museum and China Sports Museum are all the members of International Olympic Museum network. Together with Sports Souvenirs Collection Committee China Collection Association, they play a very important main channel role in the process of guiding sports collection and Olympic collection. However, for the collectors who need more guidance and instruction, to rely on the few existing institutions is apparently not sufficient. Therefore, to establish and play the role of provincial collection branches is the overall requirement for the sports collection to develop healthily and rapidly. Currently Sports Souvenirs Committee China Collection Association has attached great importance to this project and will carry out the project gradually in the near future.
五．Ancient arts and culture together with the modern scientific achievements created Olympic collection heritage
From the licensed souvenirs of the successive Olympics, Beijing Olympic Games licensed products are not only of a wide variety, but rich in cultural content and of great national characteristics. It represents modern world’s highest design level and art manufacturing standard. It is the concentrated expression of high-tech achievement.
Just because of this, among the many licensed products of Beijing Olympics, quite a lot are called as Olympic heritage collectibles. The first and second group of the Beijing Olympic commemorative gold and silver plate launched by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2006 and 2007 are the most representative collections. Olympic commemorative gold and silver plate integrated Chinese ancient sports culture, Chinese traditional sports items and modern Olympic spirits; moreover the mint initially used the giant arc stamping and relief combination as well as other world new technological level and technology for the casting; more importantly, it profoundly reveals that Chinese ancient sports is also the cradle of world physical cultural education. It is just because of this, the Olympic Games Commemorative silver plate was chosen as the gift by Premier Wen Jiabao to International Olympic Committee, by President Hu Jintao to the United Nations, by President Rogge to the Henan Provincial Government and Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Among them, the commemorative silver plate presented by Premier Wen Jiabao to IOC was selected to join the international Olympic treasure tour exhibition and become the permanent collectible treasure of the International Olympic Museum.
Porcelain is a Chinese symbol. Many porcelain kilns have become humanity’s common cultural treasure since Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing. Beijing Olympic Vase of “Peaceful and Prosperous Age” is the whole set of blue, China red, underglazed colors and golden outline. It was burned nine times. Experts from Lining, Jingdezheng and Taiwan joined together to made the vase. On some way, Beijing Olympic porcelain is modern kiln porcelain. The representation of Beijing Olympic porcelain is Lining’s Olympic China Red series which quite popular and have extensive influence, which is the result of research innovation and successful marketing. The blue and white porcelain of Jingdezheng, which can represent Chinese Porcelain cultures traditionally and have great influence in the world, has faded away and lost the opportunity to consolidate in the world and reappear the mainstream ceramic status.
Beijing Olympic has gone away gradually. The history is objective. Olympic collectibles such as Beijing Olympic commemorative sliver plate and vase of “Peaceful and Prosperous Age” not only inherited Chinese ancient cultures but reflects sports ceremony of prosperous and peaceful China, which must be pursued by the collectors. Its heritage properties will shine in the long history.
It is necessary to emphasize that Olympic collection is not the behavior of pursuing rare treasures. As long as it is Beijing Olympic licensed products, as long as it has five-ring logo(other than counterfeit), such as a note book, a small cup, a small clip, a piece of clothing, even it is old, incomplete and can no longer used, it will continue to be famous and have commemorative, collectible and economic value, whose phenomenon does not exist in other field. Therefore, the ordinary Olympic objects that we usually see can enable us to enter the museum hall. This includes the Olympic Museum in Lausanne Switzerland and Xiamen Olympic Museum in China. These museums show to the people the role and influence of Olympic legacy to human social cultures, technique, design, art, manufactures, science and technology. We advocate such a concept ”Olympic collection is a collection of cultures, moreover it is the spirit collection. As long as Olympic Collection fans attach importance to cultural connotation and commemorative significance and do not care about the economic gains and loss, act no more than he can, exchange goods and Taobao in the collectible fairs and other means to participate in the Olympic collection group, this is bound to much rewarding. Success always favor those who are diligent. Olympic spirits encourage and inspire people to go beyond themselves, to be positive, to compete fairly and to be united and friendly; under the guidance of this spirit can Olympic collectors access to a pleasant and beautiful experience: seeking, communicating, playing, appreciating and inheriting.
六．Beijing- the transformation of global Olympic collection trading and exchange center
Beijing is lucky. On August 8, 2008, it ushered guests from all over the world with an open attitude. The hundred Olympic ceremony is like a luxurious peony, which is blooming with charms and glories of China. The world is lucky. Through the ancient capital Beijing, opening China offer guests a rich and varied cultural feast and spiritual food. President Rogge declared: Beijing Olympic is an unmatched sports events.
China Olympic collection is forming a network structure, which takes Beijing as the center radiating and uniting all over the world. The most authoritative Olympic collection organization and largest Olympic collection market is located in Beijing, the most smooth logistic and information channel connects Beijing, the most active Olympic collection group gathered in Beijing. Beijing is the Olympic capital of China.
When we cast our sight to the whole world, over 100 years, regardless of how the world situation changes, Athens of Greece is the west Olympic collection trading center. I
