Xu Guoqi (Hongkong)

This talk will examine the question what is China and Chineseness from the perspective of global sports and global public from the late 19th century to the present. It will pay special attention to the close connection between China’s search for answers to the question “what is China and Chineseness” and their burning desires to participate and compete in global sports. The talk will also examine how the Chinese have used memberships in the international sports federations and the major games to address the issue of “who represents China.”  

XU Guoqi received his PhD in history from Harvard University and currently is professor of history at the University of Hong Kong. He is author of the following recent books in English: Asia and the Great War: A Shared History; Chinese and Americans: A Shared History; Strangers on the Western Front: Chinese Workers in the Great War; Olympic Dreams: China and Sports, 1895-2008; China and the Great War: China’s Pursuit of a New National Identity and Internationalization. Professor Xu is currently working on a book manuscript tentatively titled “Idea of China” which is under contract for Harvard University Press.

Personal Website: http://www.amstudy.hku.hk/staff/GXu.html