China dominate Paralympics with more golds than US, GB combined but enthusiasm at home low
In contrast, the Olympics were watched widely, with race against the US followed closely and Team China athletes lauded as national heroes
Despite China winning almost 100 gold medals at the Paris Paralympics, enthusiasm back home remains low.
The Olympics were watched widely, with victorious Team China athletes lauded as national heroes, and a nail-biting medal table rivalry with the United States followed closely.
But this week, under a news post announcing China now have more gold medals than the United States and Great Britain combined, many users on social media platform Weibo complained that too few people cared.
“Not enough people pay attention to this. It feels like there has been very little coverage [of the Paralympics] on TV,” one comment read.
China finished with 94 golds and 220 medals in total – Great Britain were way behind in second with 49 golds and 124 medals overall – and have topped the medal table at every Paralympics since 2004.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, which holds the rights to the Paralympics, has aired events live on its two free sports channels, but wider coverage has been modest compared with the Olympics.
