Macau's eight days as centre of the Portuguese-speaking world

Ola, como esta? It's a familiar question around Portuguese-speaking Macau, but never more so than during the last week as this tiny Special Administrative Region played host to the first Jogos da Lusofonia, games exclusively for the world's Portuguese-speaking countries. No world records were expected to fall over the eight-day event, but few around Macau seemed particularly disappointed about that. 'These games are about much more than sports' said Manuel Silverio, chairman of the organising committee. 'It's a cultural confluence for Portuguese-speaking people from all around the world with events ranging from art shows and poetry symposiums to organised debates and discussions.' The games aim to do for Portuguese speakers what the Commonwealth Games and the Jeux de la Francophonie have done for the British and French. It's ironic, though, that the first gathering would be held in China. 'The central government in Beijing has been very supportive,' said Silverio. 'It's a good sign and shows that Macau will maintain its autonomy and independence.' Relations between the Portuguese and the mainland regarding the colony they handed back in 1999 have always been fairly good, certainly in comparison to the prolonged and very public acrimony between the British and China over the return of Hong Kong. Imagine China's reaction if Hong Kong wanted to host the Commonwealth Games? Politics would never allow that to happen and, frankly, it's difficult to think about the Commonwealth Games, the Jeux de la Francophonie or even the Jogos da Lusofonia and not think about politics. Whether it's the British, the French or the Portuguese, the participants in these games are mostly former colonies. While Brazil is an acknowledged threat in world sports and along with Portugal quickly asserted itself as the class of this gathering, it should not have come as a surprise considering they were both competing against the likes of Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau. Rounding out the competitors are the fellow-African nations of Sao Tome and Principe, Mozambique, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, which although a former Spanish colony, was invited to compete in these games. Sri Lanka and India were also invited and the Asian contingent included, naturally, Macau. Replete with a number of state-of-the-art sporting facilities and Las Vegas glitz, this SAR bears no resemblance to the fishing village the Portuguese had occupied for over 400 years. In fact, it bears little resemblance to the place the Portuguese handed over in 1999 and what it may lack in urban sophistication, Macau makes up for in an infectious and accommodating can-do spirit. Things have not gone so well lately for the other Southeast Asian representative at these games, East Timor. Abandoned by the Portuguese in 1975, East Timor declared independence only to be invaded nine days later by neighbouring Indonesian forces. According to international aid and peace keeping agencies, there were between 100,000 and 200,000 conflict-related deaths as the people of East Timor sought independence from Indonesia. The numbers are staggering and represent roughly 20 per cent of the country's population. This type of tragedy takes generations for the scars to heal. And yet an independent East Timor is welcomed with open arms in Macau, sending 57 athletes to compete in the games despite a fresh round of civil strife which culminated in Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri resigning in June. But none of that seemed to matter to a good natured throng of athletes gathered on a sunny afternoon at Macau Stadium. As the runners for the women's 1,500 metres final assembled at the starting line it was clear on appearances alone that either Portugal or Brazil would once again be victorious. As Portugal's Sandra Soares Teixiera powerfully separated herself from the pack on the bell lap, she immediately lapped a dwarfish figure in baggy shorts. Crossing the finish line in majestic form, Teixiera was greeted by polite applause. Almost two minutes later, 15-year-old Goncalves Gama Lola of East Timor, who had been running alone for over a minute, crossed the finish line to a standing ovation that easily dwarfed that of the champion. All were on their feet in a scene that could melt the heart of a cynic. There are a lot of bad things happening in the world right now, we all know that. Unfortunately, we easily forget there are a lot of good things happening in the world these days as well.