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Chapter 241 Director Wu's Victory Sign! (Long-time readers can skip this chapter)

On July 7, 2001, the Beijing Olympic Bid Committee delegation left Beijing for Moscow to participate in the final "battle".

The Beijing Olympic Bid Committee sent four delegations to Moscow. The first was the Bid Committee delegation, which, according to International Olympic Committee regulations, consisted of only 65 people, including three IOC members from China; the second was a working group of about 150 people, providing logistical support for the bid; the third was a press corps of about 120 journalists from all over the country; and there was also a support group.

Wu Yuchen also arrived in Moscow on July 7. As an ambassador for the Olympic bid, he was also one of the representatives who would give a presentation at the end, so he naturally belonged to the first delegation for the Olympic bid.

After Wu Yuchen met with the delegation at the hotel, the senior leader in charge of the delegation shook Wu Yuchen's hand and said with a smile, "Comrade Wu, as an important representative and one of the presenters this time, you bear a heavy responsibility. You should be mentally prepared!"

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "Don't worry, leader. I've already memorized the script you sent. I'll rehearse a lot these next few days and have the troupe members point out any flaws in my performance so I can perfect my demeanor. On stage, I'm naturally calm and collected; I won't get nervous and I definitely won't let China down!"

"Haha, we trust you completely. After all, you are now one of the representatives of Chinese people on the international stage!" the leader said with a smile.

Wu Yuchen was chosen for this reason: he has a significant international influence and an excellent appearance and image. Furthermore, Wu Yuchen possesses strong personal abilities and mental fortitude. Over the years, he has traveled extensively, winning various awards at the three major European film festivals and consistently achieving high box office success in Hollywood, even becoming the first Chinese director to win an Oscar.

Wu Yuchen has dealt with foreigners for many years and has been exposed to the public eye and various media scrutiny. He is intelligent and articulate. As an ambassador and important representative, he will be giving interviews, so he certainly possesses the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Wu Yuchen asked, "Boss, I heard that new regulations have been implemented this time. I wonder what kind of rules they are?"

The top leader nodded: "According to the latest regulations of the International Olympic Committee, all bidding cities must stop all promotional activities two weeks before the vote. Since this regulation is being implemented for the first time, no one knows what can and cannot be done. This time, let's follow the principle of 'remaining calm and clear-headed, doing more and talking less, and making absolutely no mistakes'."

Wu Yuchen nodded to indicate that he understood. He would only do what was clearly stipulated and would not test the boundaries this time, so as not to give the opponent any leverage.

And so, Wu Yuchen integrated into the Olympic bid delegation, living and eating with them, and constantly preparing for his own eventuality.

Beijing faced four competitors in its bid to host the Olympics: Osaka, Paris, Toronto, and Istanbul. Each of the five bidding cities was allowed to set up a booth measuring 1.2 meters wide and nearly 2 meters high, with complete freedom in what they displayed.

Although the booth was small, it was the only officially approved venue for presentations to IOC members and the formal press conference. The Beijing bid team put a lot of thought into it, using a large television to continuously play promotional videos about Beijing, alongside promotional materials and banners, making the booth both impressive and maximizing space utilization.

On the 8th, the IOC set up a booth and displayed materials. They opened the booth for half an hour in the afternoon for public interviews, with several delegates from various delegations answering questions. The following day, Wu Yuchen, along with several celebrity representatives such as Deng Yaping, Lang Ping, and Wang Nan, appeared around the booth, immediately attracting a large number of reporters.

To be honest, while Deng Yaping and others are undoubtedly influential sports stars, the international influence of sports like table tennis and volleyball is questionable. Frankly speaking, even if Wu Yuchen weren't a celebrity but a director, his international fame and influence would far surpass those of the others.

Just by looking at the attitudes of the reporters interviewing him, it's clear that Wu Yuchen was the person who was asked the most questions. The interview questions were also very diverse, some of which had nothing to do with the Olympics at all, but Wu Yuchen always maintained a friendly attitude and gave brief answers, eventually bringing the conversation back to the main topic.

However, quite a few reporters still asked questions specifically about the Olympics, such as this one:
"Director Wu, could you talk about Beijing's advantages in this Olympic bid? In what aspects do you think Beijing is ahead of the other four cities?"

Upon hearing this question, Wu Yuchen's heart skipped a beat; he knew this was a perfect opportunity for promotion, and he immediately smiled and said:

"In this bid for the Olympics, Beijing put forward three concepts: Green Olympics, High-Tech Olympics, and People-Oriented Olympics. While some countries may have the first two characteristics, our most prominent feature is the people-oriented aspect."

As a director, Wu Yuchen's closest connection to culture and humanities is that he is most suited to speak on these topics and is adept at them.

"Beijing has a history of over 3000 years, serving as the capital of six dynasties and embodying the long and rich civilization of China. In this respect, none of the other four cities can compare with Beijing."

The Olympics have a history of over 100 years, but countries with an Eastern cultural background have only hosted them twice: Tokyo in 1964 and Seoul in 1988. China, as the primary cradle of Eastern culture, hosting the Olympics in Beijing is the best way to showcase Eastern culture! In this Olympics, we will not only demonstrate our long history and culture, but also present a very modern, open, and people-oriented Beijing!

Wu Yuchen paused for a moment, then continued calmly:

"As we all know, China is the world's most populous country, with 13 billion people accounting for nearly one-fifth of the world's population. And now, all 13 billion people in our nation, and even the numerous overseas Chinese around the world, are filled with anticipation and excitement for the Olympics! No other country has hosted the Olympics as widely as China, in Beijing, to ensure that the Olympic ideals of fairness, peace, friendship, and fair competition are disseminated as extensively!"

For both the Olympics and China, this Beijing Olympics is the best possible two-way journey!

In fact, Wu Yuchen's words were somewhat of a dig at others, such as having a longer history, a larger population, and being the birthplace of Eastern culture. These remarks would not be appropriate to make during the final presentation for the Olympic bid, as they would likely displease some committee members.

However, the current press interview segment is not so serious, and it is appropriate for him to speak on these matters, so that this information can be conveyed to the committee through his words.

Reporters were snapping photos, and some committee members were actually listening nearby, while others had only heard about it in the news. If these words had come from a stranger, they might have been ignored, but coming from the renowned director Wu Yuchen, they resonated with some committee members. The longest history, the largest population, the most authentic Eastern culture…

Next, reporters took turns asking questions, and Wu Yuchen, who was well prepared, was not intimidated at all. He was humorous, witty, and spoke with ease, leaving a very deep impression on everyone.

In the following days, Wu Yuchen also encountered several foreign representatives and committee members who came to ask for his autograph and photos, and he graciously fulfilled their requests. His current influence is truly undeniable; since his debut, he has starred in a wide range of films, from art-house to commercial blockbusters, with several Hollywood movies propelling him to global fame. Especially the recent global hit, *The Pirate King*, even if some adults don't particularly like it, their children certainly do.

A week has passed in this way, and the decisive moment on the 13th has finally arrived. This time, only 62 members of the delegation will be allowed to enter the venue specially prepared for the bidding cities, and they will not be able to enter or leave freely afterward. They can only watch the presentations and votes on the big screen.

The weather was sunny today. At the entrance of the Moscow World Trade Center, the venue for the event, hundreds of media outlets from all over the world gathered early in the morning. Hundreds of reporters, carrying their cameras, were all focused on the entrance on the first floor, holding their breath as the Olympic bid presentation teams from various cities appeared on the live television screen. Their fingers on the shutter buttons were never idle, clicking and snapping away, afraid that they would miss the historic moment if they rested for even a second.

The first presentation team was the Osaka Olympic bid team, whose presentation time was from 9:00 to 10:00 Moscow time. They arranged for middle school students to play violins during their presentation. Next, the Paris delegation began their presentation at 10:15, followed by the Toronto delegation, who arranged for child stars to sing on stage.

By the time the Toronto delegation finished, it was already 12:45 PM. Wu Yuchen and the others had been sitting in the hall for three hours, intently watching the opponents' situation on the big screen. Just then, a recess began for lunch, and the meeting would resume in the afternoon.

This put pressure on the Chinese delegation, as they were next in line. It wouldn't be a problem if they went on stage directly, but the waiting period was the most agonizing time.

None of the representatives who were going to go on stage dared to eat much, for fear that something unexpected might happen when they went on stage.

Wu Yuchen wasn't that nervous. He knew that Beijing had a significant lead in the Olympic bid votes, and as long as he performed normally, there wouldn't be any problems. Wu Yuchen had a large appetite, and he finished two boxed lunches in no time.

"You should all learn from Comrade Wu's attitude. Eat and drink as usual, and treat it as just an ordinary rehearsal!" The leader said with a smile after seeing this. He knew that the most important thing now was to keep everyone calm.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen put down his lunchbox and replied with a smile, "The lunchboxes prepared by the Olympic Committee today are quite good. We can't go back on an empty stomach!"

Upon hearing this, the leader's eyes lit up: "Xiao Wu is right. We've come all this way, we can't go back empty-handed!"

Everyone understood the implication: today's trip would definitely be fruitful. However, saying it over a meal created a completely different atmosphere, far more relaxed than a formal discussion. Everyone couldn't help but smile and then began to eat.

After the recess, at 13:50 p.m., Wu Yuchen and others were guided by staff to the reporting hall, where they began their speeches and presentations promptly at 14 p.m.

The speakers comprised nine individuals, each presenting a different aspect of Beijing's preparations for the Olympic bid.

The first speaker was Mr. He Zhenliang, who also gave the final concluding remarks. Wu Yuchen was the second to last speaker before him, and he mainly talked about the culture of Beijing and the splendor of China.

After Deng Yaping and Yang Ling delivered a two-minute presentation, Wu Yuchen walked confidently to the podium, giving the voting committee members a confident smile and an uplifting posture.

"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon! Before introducing our cultural arrangements, I would like to tell you that you will have a pleasant time in Beijing in 2008."

Compared to the previous representatives' speeches, Wu Yuchen was less aloof and instead took the initiative to close the psychological distance with the committee members present, which is an advantage for him as a world-renowned face.

"This year's Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, has spread all over the world, attracting many people with its wonderful Chinese kung fu and Yin-Yang Taoist culture. But this is only a small part of our culture, and there are many cultural treasures waiting for you to discover."

When Wu Yuchen brought up the topic of film, the committee members present couldn't help but smile. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" has indeed achieved widespread popularity worldwide, with a global box office exceeding $2 million, making it the most successful Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language Film to date.

Wu Yuchen had actually considered using one of his own films as a reference, but after thinking about it, he felt that *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*, which was currently very popular and could showcase unique Chinese culture, was more suitable. His *Brotherhood of Blades*, after all, hadn't even been filmed yet. "China has its own sports tradition. Around the 11th century, during the Song Dynasty, people began playing a game called 'Cuju.' This game is considered the origin of ancient football and was very popular at the time. Women even formed their own teams and played with great enthusiasm. Now you understand why our women's football teams are so good!"

Football is the world's most popular sport, and the Chinese women's national football team won the runner-up title at the 99 World Cup, ranking among the top three in the world at that time, which was their peak. Therefore, the women's team is something to be proud of. As for the men's team, Wu Yuchen didn't even bother to mention it.

"...

Inspired by the Silk Road, our torch relay will forge a new path, starting from Mount Olympia and passing through the ancient cradles of human civilization—Greece, Rome, Egypt, Byzantium, Mesopotamia, Persia, Arabia, India, and China. With the theme "Sharing Peace, Sharing the Olympics," the eternal flame of the Olympics will traverse the Himalayas, reaching the world's highest peak—Mount Everest—thus achieving a new height!

This initiative uses the Olympic torch and the theme of the declaration to bridge the gap and foster a sense of closeness between East and West by incorporating the story of the Silk Road. It also utilizes Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, to create a visually appealing effect.

"Seven hundred years ago, marveling at his descriptions of that beautiful, distant land, people asked Marco Polo: Are your stories about China true? He replied: I have only described half of what I have seen to you. In fact, what we are showing you today is merely a corner of the capital city that awaits your arrival."

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that Beijing will prove to athletes, spectators, and television viewers around the world that this is a magical land. Come join us!

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you everyone!

Wu Yuchen gave a 4-minute and 10-second presentation by himself. The time was all rehearsed. If the person in front of him ran out of time, he had to slow down his speech. If the person in front of him ran out of time, he had to shorten his content by one or two sentences. It really tested his ability to speak on the spot. Fortunately, everyone was basically within their own time limit. Wu Yuchen completed his presentation with ease and confidence.

By the time he bowed and stepped off the stage, there was already a lot of applause.

After Wu Yuchen stepped down, it was Mr. He Zhenliang's turn to give the final summary:

Mr. Chairman, dear colleagues:

Whatever choices you make today will be recorded in history. However, one decision will surely make history. Your decision today will promote friendship between the world and China through the movement, thus benefiting all mankind.

……

If the honor of hosting the 2008 Olympic Games is bestowed upon Beijing, my dear colleagues, I can assure you that the achievements seven years from now will make you proud of today's decision! Thank you!

As Wu Yuchen listened to the powerful guarantee from the stage, he couldn't help but feel moved. The 08 Beijing Olympics had indeed amazed the world. Just take the opening ceremony for example; no other Olympics could compare!
After that, the Olympics declined year by year, and it was truly incomparable to the 08 Olympics. Our China truly lives up to its word; we always keep our promises!

After Mr. He finished his summary, the report and presentation on Beijing's bid for the Olympics came to an end. After stepping down from the stage, he shook hands and hugged everyone to encourage them.

When the delegation came out of the door, a group of reporters swarmed around them, hoping to get some useful information. However, everyone kept a low profile and did not want to reveal their thoughts. There was still one group in Istanbul that had not yet started.

In the end, the team leader uttered three words: "We have confidence!"

At this moment, Wu Yuchen also flashed a V-sign and a confident smile at the reporters taking photos. Since the top leader had made his stance clear, he could also express his attitude, while simultaneously putting pressure on his opponents. His expression was naturally captured by numerous media outlets and transmitted back to all parts of the world in real time.

Before long, Wu Yuchen's picture was circulated on the Chinese Internet, and various Internet companies even put it on their homepages, attracting a lot of attention.

"Director Wu made a V-sign!"

"Wow, so confident! I hope Director Wu's V will bring good luck!"

"Wu Yuchen is being rather arrogant; this is not a good sign!"

"Bullshit! Don't jinx it, upstairs. What do you mean? Are you hoping for failure?!"

"Director Wu has always been successful and has never failed. He will surely bless China to victory!"

"Ignore the clown. Wu Yuchen is just confident. China will definitely succeed!"

"If we succeed in winning the bid for the Olympics this time, I will stop worshipping Buddha and Guan Yu and start worshipping this picture of Director Wu!"

"Wow! That's ruthless! But count me in. If it succeeds, I'll pray to Director Wu for good luck from now on!"

When many people in China saw Wu Yuchen make the V sign, they couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. This at least proved that they must have performed well on the spot, otherwise Wu Yuchen wouldn't have shown such an expression.

Wu Yuchen naturally paid no attention to the discussions sparked by his gesture, nor would he care even if he did. His focus was entirely on the final vote. Although he knew Beijing was bound to win, being there in person made him involuntarily concerned.

With the final presentation from Istanbul concluded, it was already 4:30 PM. The session then adjourned again, and the evaluation committee began its assessment of the previous reports.

At 17:30 p.m., all delegations returned to the meeting hall, and the 104 committee members began the formal voting.

Although the voting only lasted three minutes, it was a nerve-wracking time for everyone, who watched with bated breath. Wu Yuchen stood confidently with his arms crossed, thinking that with a renowned Chinese director of international influence joining the team, things should be much easier; surely nothing unexpected could go wrong?
The first round results were quickly announced, with Beijing receiving 44 votes, ranking first by a huge margin, while Toronto came in second with only 20 votes. However, because the rules stipulated that the number of votes did not reach a majority (52 votes), a second round was required.

According to the rules, if a candidate city receives more than half the votes and ranks first, it will win directly and obtain the right to host the event. If not, the candidate city with the fewest votes will be eliminated, and the other cities will enter the next round of voting.

The situation is now extremely favorable for China. According to the rules, Osaka, ranking last, will be ineligible for the second round of voting, and the votes cast for Osaka in the first round are highly likely to go to China, another Asian country, in the second round.

However, at this moment, none of the members of the Chinese delegation dared to show any joy, because there were precedents to this.

在1993年申办2000年奥运会的时候，当时京城在前三轮的投票环节分别以32票、37票和 40票的成绩三次名列榜首，但均未达到全场选票的半数 45票。

As a result, Istanbul, Berlin, and Manchester were eliminated due to their bottom rankings, leaving only Beijing and Sydney in the brutal one-on-one voting round: regardless of whether the votes exceeded half, the city with the most votes would win.

At the time, most people thought that Beijing would win as it had in the previous three rounds, with a high chance of victory. However, the reversal happened in a way that no one expected. Sydney, which had only received a maximum of 37 votes in the previous three rounds, suddenly received 45 votes in this round, defeating Beijing 45 to 43 in the final moments.

After the voting results were announced, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Even the usually enthusiastic reporters fell silent, with only the Australian delegation shouting excitedly.

This taught the Olympic bid team a lesson they would never forget, so now, even when they're in the lead, no one dares to smile during the voting process.

At 10:10 p.m., the second round of voting began. After another short yet long two minutes, the IOC Disciplinary Commission vote monitors slowly picked up the slips of paper with the results written on them, placed them steadily into an envelope, and sealed it.

Those in the audience who were familiar with the IOC election process immediately stood up!
The envelope being sealed means that a city has already won with more than half the votes in this round, and there will be no third round of voting, because the envelope will not be sealed if voting continues!
Upon seeing this, Wu Yuchen's lips curled into a smile. This must be the capital!

Although everyone felt that the envelope was 9% likely to contain information about Beijing, the delegation members still dared not celebrate prematurely. The most frequent reminder they gave each other was: "Don't jump around randomly, wait until you hear me clearly before you jump!"

On stage, Samaranch opened the envelope and solemnly announced: "The host city of the 2008 Summer Olympics is..."

At this moment, not only the people in the stadium, but also people all over the world were watching Samaranch intently through the live television broadcast.

Beijing!

(End of this chapter)