Athletes Only as Old as China Says They Are

NY Times ^ | August 12, 2008 | By HARVEY ARATON

[Teacher317]

In November 2007, one of the gymnasts was introduced as being 13 years old, now she is suddenly 16.

Another wrinkle is what "16" means. Many Chinese and Koreans consider a child to be the age of "1" at its birth, and add one year to their age at every New Year. Therefore, a child can be born one month before New Year's Day, and be called "2", even though they have only been ex-utero for 30 days.

Then there's the Chinese calendar vs Lunar Calendar thing. A few Chinese friends actually claim two birthdates, and often ask which is the correct one to use when filling out school paperwork, etc.

The same official who intriduced that girl as "13" last year can still honestly call her "16" today, depending on which calculation system they choose to use. I'm sure the Olympic regulation is explicit enough... but when we're talking about a PR battle (which this is, since the IOC won't dare take any medals away from the Chinese this quadrennial), the Chinese can claim soncerity, while still being utterly Clintonian in their deception.

[Teacher317]

Here's Germany's Oksana Chusovitina, 5'0, 97 lbs

[razorback-bert]

What is it?