American Cheerleading is relatively new to China. But that hasn't stopped the enthusiastic Olympic host from assembling a pep squad of 200,000 volunteers, the largest in Games history, to stir up spirit for any national team that needs it. It's one of the bubbliest – and perhaps unlikeliest – ways China hopes to wow its international visitors next month.
Then again, this is the country that has recruited 1.5 million Olympic volunteers and spent $40 billion for its coming-out party – both record-breaking efforts. It is almost unheard of in the history of the Olympic movement, [recruiting such a] large number of student cheerleaders to cheer for other countries during the Games. The Beijing Olympic Games is setting precedents.
They'll have some simple dance steps under their belt as well as plastic, noisemaking "cheering sticks" to clap together. Olympics organizers are also preparing 28 elite squads of young women chosen through a nationwide competition and from cheerleading or dance institutes. The 400 who made the cut will perform "not only as cheerleaders, but also as dancers and acrobats," the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) promises on its website.
They've been practicing for four to six hours a day at a compound in Beijing since June. To teach them new moves and help them with pep and precision, BOCOG brought in cheerleaders from the storied New England Patriots football team. Some routines are self-choreographed and throw in some Chinese flair. One group squats and kicks with red fans, flicking them open and shut with a loud whir to Asian-infused techno. Another squad twirls nunchucks before switching to pompoms mid-song. "Everyone knows cheerleading is a Western activity, but we hope we can find a Chinese way to do it [and] show the world".
