Changing China
Giant on the move
Chinese fans not shy in picking sides
China had just lost to the U.S. but even though their team was out the crowd’s cheering, jeering, floor stomping and plastic stick drumming was just warming up on a 14-hour day of men’s volleyball play.
One match later, the Chinese fans were wildly rooting for Egypt over Russia.
“Is it politics? I don’t think so,” said one baffled Egyptian player. But he had no better ideas.
Later the crowd roared for Germany over Serbia and every time Japan tossed a ball in the air to serve against Venezuela that evening, the still largely Chinese crowd of 7,500 booed and stomped until the stadium vibrated.
