Can patriotism extend beyond homeland passion?

They say living away from your home country gives expat countrymen a very good dose of heart-thumping patriotism. This has happened to me when I've lived away from Australia in the past, but living in China has given me a solid re-dose, particularly given the fact that we’ve come here with children. Keeping Australia alive and well in our children’s minds and hearts has been a given, but it’s also been curious to watch our kids pine for their homeland unprompted, and to refer and defer to it almost as though it’s their birthright – as though it’s in their blood. Which of course – it is.

Powerful stuff, that blood. That homeland connection.

Despite falling in love with Beijing and never wanting to leave, this homeland connection is calling our family. It’s like a siren song, and lately it seems to be getting stronger, lulling us over the waves of the Pacific Ocean, skimming over the Barrier Reef, bounding over Papua New Guinea and leaping over the Tropic of Capricorn, skipping around the Philippines, glancing off Hong Kong and flooding into the Beijing basin. And we can, of course, hear it’s call all the more strongly since the commencement of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

There’s not much more patriotism-pumping than the Games, no matter where you are in the world. Watching our Aussie athletes come to Beijing and strive for glory is a wondrous thing, and after seeing our team hover in the top five for the duration of the Games… for a country comprising only 21 million people (roughly the population of Greater Shanghai) – that’s some feat.

But forgive me my blatant favouritism. The point of this blog is to extend to you, dear reader, no matter where you’re from – that watching the Olympics from a foreign country has been incredibly eye-opening to me. Eye-opening because it seems the Aussies are not the only ones I’m barracking for.

It’s not necessarily China I’m cheering on. It’s non-country-specific, actually. It really tends to be whomever I’ve caught on the tele at that particular moment. It could be a Bulgarian weight lifter, a pair of Spanish synchronized swimmers, a Japanese trampolinist or a pack of rowers from the Old Country (Great Britain to you). Watching this impressive coverage of the Games on television allows us to see these sporting moments up close and personal. It allows us to see the physical pain, the mental agony, the emotional rapture, not to mention the jaw-dropping talent.

I mean, how could you not gasp, yell, scream with victory and cry out in mortification as these athletes push their bodies beyond normal human capacity? How could you not tear-up at the sight of their faces – devastation, shock, triumph and pure elation – after many years if not an entire lifetime of training and personal dedication? While I’m a deeply passionate Australian team supporter and am first to leap from my seat and scream Aussie Aussie Aussie!, does it really matter where we are from when it comes to the thrill of the win? Can we not extend ourselves beyond the lines of our borders and feel an inner sense of pride for all athletes as they strive for that glint of gold?

The Beijing Olympics is setting a fine example of sportsmanship. Sure, there’s been frustration and disappointment for many. Sure, the Chinese are certainly dominating (and this surprises you because…?), but overall I’ve been astounded at the all-round sportsmanship displayed at these Games. From the smiling, welcoming, English-speaking volunteers at the venues, right up to the gold medalists, extending themselves with handshakes and kisses to subordinate winners on the medal dais. It’s a fine thing for our children to see.

Sport, whether you are an armchair spectator or the outdoors type, is truly something that connects us all – no matter our origins, religion or creed. It is something that links us and firmly entrenches us in the human experience – both physically and spiritually. And when it can be celebrated in such a spirit of companionship as well as competition, this is when the world feels truly at peace – a true embodiment of the Olympic ideology.

And on a final note, in the words of my son: Win, Australia! You just gotta win! If only it were that easy…

Tania McCartney