Hello Beijing. Thank you, China

In a continuation of expressions of gratitude that showed up at various points during the Beijing Olympics, athletes at the ongoing Paralympics have held up banners reading "Thank you, China" and "Hello, Beijing."

Here's a popular post from the Xinhuanet forums that tries to assess what all the thanks means:

During the wheelchair basketball competition at the Beijing Paralympics on 7 September, the Swedish team held up signs reading "Hello, Beijing!" and "Thank you, China!" at the close of the game.

This wasn't the first time. At the previous day's Opening Ceremony, the German team entered the stadium carrying a flag emblazoned with the words, "Hello Beijing," and at the recently-concluded Olympic Games, the smiling American women's team entered the synchronized swimming team finals on 23 August carrying a red-on-blue banner that read "Thank you, China."

At many times, "thank you" is difficult to put into writing or speech; this time it's even more emotional and thought-provoking given that the object of the "thanks" is China and Beijing. No one can forget that the controversy, criticism, and attention given to the Beijing Olympics on the part of the international community, particularly the western world, was politicized to an unprecedented degree. The so-called crackdown on the 14 March Lhasa riots and the groundless indictments of China's so-called human rights situation were no more than an attempt to smear and slander China by an extremely small group of anti-China forces who maliciously sought to hoodwink world public opinion.

After the storm passed and the spectacular, "truly exceptional" Beijing Olympics arrived, certain athletes wearing face masks as they cleared customs and immigration became the butt of jokes, and a minority of media clutching their magnifying lens became merely a nuisance. In their place were gasps of sincere admiration, and even western government leaders who had been at the vanguard of anti-China sentiment proposed "giving a gold medal to China!" In the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube, and at all the co-host cities and sports venues, glittering names like Phelps and Bolt broke records in China and found glory in Beijing. The outstanding organization of the Beijing Olympics, its tight security measures, and its comprehensive and enthusiastic service gave athletes and the entire world wonderful and abiding memories.

"Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?" The opening ceremony spread the Analects of Confucius throughout the whole world. Likewise, now that the Paralympic flame has been lit and the Paralympics have begun, the government and people of China will bring the world yet another delight: China is able to host a unique, high-level Paralympic Games. The promise of "two games, equal splendor" will be fully realized, and a perfect finale will be one for the history books. The fervor and hospitality of the Chinese people will once again touch the world.

"Thank you, China!" What a concise summation, a simple statement, a sincere expression! Courteous interaction is one of China's traditional virtues. And now, we want to say "thank you" to the Paralympic athletes and to the people of the entire world, to thank the world for giving us — for giving China — this opportunity. Thank you for giving China the strength and confidence to be "faster, higher, stronger" at the Olympics, and now at the Paralympics, the mentality and spirit of "transcendence, integration and equality." By the closing ceremony of the Paralympics, China will draw even closer to the world. May the Paralympics spread the brilliance light of "flying with the dream" to every corner of the globe and to everyone in the world!