体育与中美关系的历史发展——纪念“乒乓外交”50周年

Role of Sports in the Historical Development of Sino-American Relations:An Essay in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Ping Pong Diplomacy

本文通过分析留美幼童、基督教青年会,以及中国参加两届美国洛杉矶奥运会等案例,揭示这些由体育活动形成的中美共同经历,如何为"乒乓外交"的成功及中美两国人民交往打下坚实的历史基础。本文认为,体育的重要性在中美关系史中非常突出,不仅帮助缔造了中美人民的友谊,也与两国外交关系环环相扣,成为两国"共有的历史"和"共有旅程"的重要环节。文章强调,应借纪念中美"乒乓外交"半个世纪的契机,研究和思考体育因素在中美关系中的作用和影响。体育视野不仅有助于重新认识和理解"乒乓外交",在学术上是一个突破和创新,甚至有可能为我们提供一个有效窗口,思考如何更好处理中美两国关系,增进彼此的友谊和相互了解。

By using cases of the China education mission in the U.S.A.,the Young Men’s Christian Association in China,and the Chinese participation in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932 and 1984 respectively,this paper examines the shared experiences of the Chinese and Americans through sports.It argues that this kind of shared history provided a solid historical foundation for the success of the Ping-Pong Diplomacy and later for close,people to people’s relationships.This paper stresses the important role of sports in Sino-American relations both academically and diplomatically.It further argues that sports might provide a useful vehicle to improve future Sino-American relations and strengthen the bilateral relations between the Chinese and Americans.