Wired ｜ This China girl who ＂doesn’t know sports＂ became the torchbearer of the Tokyo Olympics.

Hou Jiayi.

After the Tokyo Olympics was postponed, the Olympic flame has been placed in a "secret location" for preservation. For those torchbearers of the Tokyo Olympic Games, the dream of passing on the Olympic spirit can only wait for the coming year.

In the waiting crowd, a torchbearer is different. She is not an athlete or a celebrity, and even knows a little about sports itself, but she once occupied the "C" position in the front page news of official website of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee.

The "non-compliant" torchbearer is Hou Jiayi, a 27-year-old girl from China, who went to work in Japan after graduating from American graduate school in 2018. At present, she works as an engineer in a German company in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

In an exclusive interview with a reporter from The Paper, Hou Jiayi admitted that she would inevitably feel some regret. However, for this young man, his ambition to connect with the world has only been postponed for one year. "I will be a torchbearer next year."

Hou Jiayi’s countdown clock for Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Olympic flame, so far and so close.

"count down has started again." On April Fool’s Day, Hou Jiayi wrote on her social media, accompanied by a photo of the countdown card, which read "478 days before the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games" …

Everything seems to be back to the starting point.

Due to the delay of the Olympic Games, the Olympic torch relay scheduled for March 26th was also cancelled. However, the Japanese Olympic Organizing Committee later decided that the flame will be exhibited in Fukushima for one month on April 2-this city that suffered from nuclear disaster is the first stop of the torch relay.

"I saw in the news that the flame will be exhibited in Fukushima for a month, and I felt that I was not far from there, so I drove to see it." Two days after the Olympic flame was exhibited on April 4, Hou Jiayi arrived at Fukushima National Football Center by car for three hours from Tochigi Prefecture.

Like Hou Jiayi, many Japanese people have come here to see the "true content" of the flame. However, in order to avoid crowded people, strict admission measures have been taken in the Flame Exhibition Hall. "I feel that the protective measures here are still in place."

According to the regulations, only six people can enter the museum to watch the flame at a time, and each visitor must keep a distance of more than 1 meter, and stay for no more than 30 seconds. In addition, everyone must wear a mask and disinfect their hands before entering the museum.

"Although 30 seconds feels a little short, it is quite interesting to see the kindling lamp at close range." Hou Jiayi recalled to the The Paper reporter the scene at that time. "Many local people in Fukushima went, and it felt good to bring them hope in this form."

As a torchbearer, Hou Jiayi is undoubtedly lucky. Although she just looked at the flame from a distance, she felt the sacredness more closely than most people. However, after three days (7th), the flame exhibition was urgently stopped due to the severity of the epidemic …

In Fukushima, Japan, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Torch Tour was held. People’s visual map

"One in a Million" China Torchbearer

Hou Jiayi once went to her torch relay. "Each torchbearer is about 200 meters away and needs to run in 3 minutes."

Although it’s only a short distance of 200 meters-the conditions for being an Olympic torchbearer are far more demanding than those for being an Olympic volunteer, and they are often celebrities in sports and other fields in China.

For example, Satomi Ishihara, a Japanese superstar, is the torch ambassador for the Tokyo Olympic Games and will participate in the torch relay.

In contrast, Hou Jiayi, who is also a torchbearer, is neither a Japanese celebrity nor an athlete. According to the incomplete statistics of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, among the 10,000 torchbearers, about 0.2% are from China.

Then, why was this 27-year-old China girl chosen as the "chosen son" for the torch relay in Japan?

"Maybe I was chosen by accident." Hou Jiayi is very modest about her identity as a "one in a million" torchbearer. She originally wanted to take part in the second leg of the domestic relay in Japan-the Tochigi torch relay in the middle of Honshu Island.

According to the rules of Tokyo Olympic Games, there are many ways to openly recruit torchbearers. For example, you can register directly with the local government, or through Olympic sponsors and insurance companies. In addition, the organizing committee will have its own recommended places.

Hou Jiayi registered with Tochigi County Government. The reason is also very simple. She has worked in a German machinery manufacturing enterprise here for two years. "I work and live here now, and I really want to do something for it."

Therefore, in the column of declaration reasons of Olympic torchbearers,Worked as a volunteer in Sochi and Rio Olympics.Hou Jiayi wrote: "I hope to promote the charm of that beard by becoming a torchbearer." It is precisely this and her experience that BOCOG took a fancy to-promoting local natural and cultural features to Japan and the world..

Hou Jiayi (middle) is a volunteer for the Rio Olympics.

"I was relieved after announcing the extension."

In fact, the torch relay of this Olympic Games was originally "ill-fated"-the torch relay originally planned to be held in Greece was terminated after only one day, and all the performances at the handover ceremony were cancelled. Even the torch was blown out twice by strong winds after arriving in Japan …

Hou Jiayi is very calm about the torch relay under the epidemic situation. She believes that the torch relay should not be carried out under such circumstances. "If I am infected and passed it on to others without knowing it, I personally think it is very unworthy."

Hou Jiayi told the The Paper that it was stipulated in the Torchbearer’s Manual issued to them by the Japanese Olympic Organizing Committee that torchbearers should not wear masks in the torch relay. "When I saw this article, combined with the news at that time, I felt very dangerous."

Later, the Japanese Olympic Organizing Committee changed this rule in an email to torchbearers: The Olympic Organizing Committee said that torchbearers can choose to wear masks if they are worried about the COVID-19 epidemic, and warned everyone to take their own temperature. If it exceeds 37.5℃, they should not participate.

In this regard, Hou Jiayi is still not too optimistic. "The torch relay is two-way. It is not only to convey Japan’s determination to host the Olympic Games to the world, but also to be responsible for its own people. If the epidemic spreads, people should be considered first. "

"So, I feel relieved to announce the extension." Hou Jiayi said bluntly.

Although the desire to participate in the torch relay this year has been dashed, BOCOG assured these torchbearers that they can continue to participate in the torch relay next year. "As far as I know, most torchbearers in Japan are still willing to wait, and so am I.."　

Japanese actress Satomi Ishihara participated in the rehearsal of the Tokyo Olympic torch relay.

"I want to be a bridge connecting the world"

Like most post-90s generation, Hou Jiayi has the unique characteristics of this generation of young people: compared with previous generations, they often have a distinct sense of self and independence, a broader vision and greater ambitions.

Hou Jiayi was born in Zhengzhou, Henan Province in 1993. As early as 17 years old, she left home to attend high school in the United States and obtained a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, USA. It is this overseas study experience that makes this China girl attached to the Olympic Games.

Like most American students, Hou Jiayi also hopes to have a "Gap Year" to increase her experience. Therefore, she has been paying attention to various voluntary activities since her freshman year (2013). "This will allow me to understand the cultures of different countries faster."

Just at this time, the Sochi Winter Olympics was recruiting volunteers, so Hou Jiayi signed up and volunteered for three months. She was deeply touched by this Olympic experience. "I think this is not just a sports event, but more an economic and cultural exchange."

Hou Jiayi is in Sochi Winter Olympics.

Although she usually doesn’t pay much attention to sports, Hou Jiayi was shocked by the Olympic spirit. At that Winter Olympics, when Zhang Hong won the first gold medal in the history of the Winter Olympics for China’s speed skating, she couldn’t help being proud and excited.

The Olympic Games has an intangible charm that makes Hou Jiayi very "superior". After that, she once again became a volunteer for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and also set up a domestic volunteer organization to help more Chinese who are interested in serving the Olympic Games to realize their dreams.

"When you are a volunteer, someone tells you what help he needs, and then you help him; But as a torchbearer, I think more about what I can do for others, and I may take the initiative to think more. "

Of course, Hou Jiayi is not satisfied with this. She wants to gain rich life experiences through different experiences.

"I hope I can not only become a bridge between Japan and China, but also become a bridge connecting the world."