This is Bill Tsutsui with another Postcard from Asia from the Center for East Asian studies.

The Olympics has inspired more than national pride and a quest for excellence in sports here in Beijing. It has inspired a generation of Olympic-related names as well. At last count, more than 7,000 new babies were given an Olympic-type name. Close to 3,500 children – mostly boys – have the moniker Aoyun (OW YOON) which means “Olympics” and over 4,000 have been named for the fuwa, the Olympic Mascots: Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan Huan, Ying Ying and Ni Ni which, when said together mean “Beijing welcomes you.” This greeting was created especially for the 2008 Games but, given the sheer number of small children who now share these names, it’s likely the greeting will echo in schoolrooms for years to come.

With thanks to Leslie vonHolten for this text, from the Center for East Asian Studies, I’m Bill Tsutsui. Wish you were here.