Lin Qiang, vice inspector of the Sichuan provincial educational department, requested the province's organizing committee for the Olympic torch relay to disqualify him as a torch bearer.

"As an educational administrator, I bear special, though not direct, responsibility toward those innocent children and their parents and relatives. I feel profoundly apologetic to them. So I have to reject the honor of relaying the Olympic torch as atonement," he said.

The quake toppled about 7,000 schools, killing thousands of students.

Many netizens proposed having surviving children light the cauldron at the Olympics opening ceremony.

"The torch itself is neutral, but people attach different meanings to it, pride or protest ... China had been trying to declare to the world that it bade farewell to darkness and was surging," said veteran journalist Hu Yong, who proposed the plan, on his blog.

"After the quake, China doesn't need to show its growth and friendliness to the whole world, but should let people see the dignity of human beings and how they helped each other amid difficulty," he wrote.

"Now the Chinese view the Olympics from a more sensible perspective. It is not merely a carnival, but a symbol for peace, hope and condolences," said an editorial in the Chinese-language U.S. Qiaobao.

Prepared for ups and downs

"These events served to cool people's blind optimism," said Xia Xueluan, a sociologist at Beijing University.

The crises had prepared people for adversity, he noted. "Rather than superficial work, they could be more down to Earth and focus on real problems. After all, the Olympiad is not our sole task."

"China can't depend on a sports event to change its fortunes," said Lu Xueyi, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"We have only come so far after 30 years of reform and opening up, and we have to continue engaging the rest of the world in our development," he said. "The stormy events have allowed us to calm down and reassess, and we are more broad-minded, more sensible and better prepared."

However, the psychological changes don't mean that China will downplay the importance of the Olympics, said the sailing committee's Yuan.

"Hosting a successful Olympic Games would encourage people in the quake zones," he said. "We will treat it seriously as always."

In a meeting convened last Friday, top Chinese leaders urged people to understand the significance of hosting a successful Olympics, to display heroic spirits, particularly after the earthquake, and to make efforts to be an excellent host.

"No matter what difficulties and challenges we face, we should conform to the aspirations of the people of all ethnic groups and fulfill our promise to the world to host a good Beijing Olympics," a meeting document stated.

"We should work even harder and be more meticulous in the preparatory work to ensure that the Games are distinctive and of a high standard," it said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2008)