Chapter 581 08 Olympics Opening!

The improved level of European and Asian leagues and a large number of naturalized players have greatly improved the strength of the participating teams in this Olympics, and the balance has been improved to a certain extent.

In some international betting games, the odds of the US team winning the championship are no longer the only one.

In those handicaps, the US's winning rate is about 40%, the Dragon Country has 30%, and the remaining 30%, including Japan, Germany, Serbia, Argentina, Spain, Greece, etc., all have a share, and Japan has a 14% winning rate leading this group of heroes.

Everyone can feel that this is a basketball heyday, and the basketball league of this Olympics will surely become the strongest Olympics in history, and its intensity and cruelty are destined to exceed the NBA, which was once the standard of the basketball hall.

………………

"Ladies and gentlemen, our plane has arrived at Yanjing Capital International Airport, please..."

The plane has slowly landed, Lin Dong took out his sunglasses and put them on, and when he walked through the passage and entered the airport, the hall was full of songs with the characteristics of the times.

When he came back today, Lin Dong did not notify any media, but only informed his family and Lao Li.

However, even so, even though he was extremely low-key and wore sunglasses and masks, he was still recognized as soon as he walked into the airport passage.

There is no way. If you are a movie star, you put on sunglasses, masks and sun hats, and lower your head quietly, and no one will look at you more.

But Lin Dong's height of 201 cm is too eye-catching. It is hard not to attract attention. In addition, there are advertisements all over the world, even in this Capital Airport.

What light boxes, posters, video screens... front, side, back, Longguo people watch them every day, and they are exactly the same no matter how they look.

Just like what the saying goes?

You are like a firefly in the dark night sky. Even if you are squeezed in the vast crowd, you are still so bright and outstanding. Your tall figure, straight back, handsome facial contours and unique temperament all betray you deeply...

Things like sunglasses and masks can't block anything. Not to mention fans, even people who never watch basketball can definitely recognize him at a glance.

So...

It is natural to see a lot of fans in the airport who are so excited after recognizing him that they can't help themselves. Surrounding him, he finally left through the employee channel under the escort of the airport security. When he took a taxi, he had to meet a taxi driver who was so excited that he couldn't even speak clearly and refused to take money when he arrived at the place.

There was no way, Lin Dong had to give the driver uncle who kept talking to him about basketball since he got on the car a ticket. It was a backcourt ticket for the first game of the group match between Dragon Country and Australia. The crazy star-chasing taxi driver was almost excited and fainted on the spot.

This is the Olympic ticket of the Dragon Country Basketball Team. Even the backcourt ticket has been sold for more than 3,000 yuan in Yanjing.

Moreover, this was personally sent by the God of Basketball... My God, the taxi driver felt like he had won the first prize of the Double Color Ball.

When I returned to Yanjing, I naturally had to visit my grandparents. My mother and Lao Lin bought a new wedding house in Yanjing. They came back last year to hold a second wedding, but they also lived in my grandparents' house these days, so they were reunited.

The basketball team did not live in the Olympic Village, but lived collectively in the Tiantan Apartment not far from the Wukesong Stadium. This was convenient for the team's warm-up training in the past few days and for the team's Olympic games in the future. After all, most basketball games are concentrated in the Wukesong Stadium. Living close to it can at least save some time in traffic jams.

But Lin Dong was an exception. He did not have to be locked up in the Tiantan Apartment with the basketball team.

First, when the national team returned to China, he had some team matters to deal with in Marbella, so he did not follow the main team and came back a few days late, resulting in the overall synchronization.

In addition, more importantly, Lin Dong replaced Yao Ming from another world and became the flag bearer of the Longguo sports delegation at this year's Olympics. He has to report to the General Administration of Sports tomorrow and go to the Bird's Nest to see the venue and route for raising the flag. Rehearsal should not be necessary, but you must walk around a few times to familiarize yourself with it in advance.

There are also speeches by player representatives and two meetings of the General Administration of Sports... For Longguo, Lin Dong is no longer just a basketball player.

There are too many things to do. He wanted to find time to get together with old friends such as Sakuragi and Kobe, but he has never found the free time.

Let alone getting together and relaxing, he even has no time and energy to deal with some company affairs of Slam Dunk International recently. Everything has to give way to this Olympics.

After all, this is a special Olympics that represents the national destiny of Longguo. Only Longguo people who are in it and have their motherland in mind can truly feel what this Olympics has brought to this nation.

So whether it was raising the flag to familiarize himself with the venue, or the understanding that Lin Dong once hated the most, this time he put all his enthusiasm into it and was very busy.

In fact, it was not only Lin Dong who was busy, the basketball team was also busy, busy adjusting their status and adapting to the venue. After all, as the host, they had adapted for more than half a month, which was a unique advantage.

In fact, the entire Yanjing City was very busy these days.

Tens of thousands of free volunteers shuttled through the streets and alleys of this city every day, guiding and translating for the countless tourists from all over the world attracted by this Olympics.

They conveyed the unique enthusiasm and friendliness of the Dragon Nation to the world, and also showed the vitality and potential of this nation to the world, making this brightly lit city warm and enthusiastic every day, every minute and every second.

Everyone is preparing, everyone is looking forward to it, the whole nation is united, the 2008 Olympics, a national event destined to go down in history, quietly kicked off in this busy and fulfilling.

August 8, 8 pm...

The Bird's Nest Stadium was full of people. This super stadium that can accommodate 100,000 spectators was filled with more than 90,000 spectators and heads of state and dignitaries from various countries. It was extremely grand.

Accompanied by 2008 drummers beating the glowing ancient Chinese musical instrument, the Chinese characters and Arabic numerals formed the opening countdown.

Then, from Yongdingmen to the main venue, 29 footprint-shaped fireworks were released continuously along the central axis of Yanjing City, symbolizing that the 29th Olympic Games was stepping into the Bird's Nest Stadium...

Whether it was the countless athletes like Lin Dong who participated in it, or the enthusiastic volunteers who shuttled through the streets and alleys, or even all the audiences around the world who were watching this grand opening ceremony and seemed to be participating in the grand event, they all cheered with the shocking countdown.

——My family's door is always open, and I embrace the world with my arms...

The crisp children's voices gently caressed the hustle and bustle of the city, as if bringing the fanatical people from the prosperous world to the calm and refreshing primeval forest, just like the combination of hardness and softness that this nation with a heart of a tiger and a nose for roses pays attention to.

And the subsequent scroll performances, text performances, drama performances, Silk Road, etc....

Hundreds of thousands of celebrities, soldiers, civilians, athletes, etc. participated in the opening ceremony of the most grand and gorgeous sports meeting in human history. Here, regardless of identity, origin, or experience, they all became part of the opening ceremony.

Just like the Olympic spirit that every country promotes: everyone should have the possibility to engage in sports without any form of discrimination, and embody mutual understanding, friendship, unity and fair competition.

Enjoy sports, enjoy competition, and enjoy this carnival that belongs to all mankind!

Various grand large-scale performances shocked the world and set off waves of climaxes on the scene, until the athletes entered the venue, until Lin Dong held the national flag and walked at the forefront of the Dragon Country Olympic Team and appeared in the big camera screen, whether it was the scene, the entire Dragon Country, or the world, at this moment, all the enthusiasm and cheers were released and raised to the highest level.

This is the first truly world-class king in Asia, and there is no dispute!

What? Football is the first sport? Only qualified to be called the king of football?

No, the Dragon people don’t agree! The Dragon people say that basketball is the first sport! Lin Dong is the only king of football in the world!

In Longguo, no one can compare with him in terms of influence in the sports field. Even the one who won the 110 hurdles championship in the 2004 Athens Olympics and was hailed as the pride of the yellow race, has to stand behind him in terms of reputation and influence!

During the entire introduction process, the camera gave Lin Dong a close-up of his face for more than 20 seconds, and the cheers from the whole country never stopped from the moment he appeared on the camera.

"Lin Dong! Lin Dong! Lin Dong!"

Amid the crazy cheers of nearly 100,000 people at the scene, and the cheers from the whole country and even the whole world, the 2008 Olympics finally officially began!

…………

The schedule of the Longguo men's basketball team has been arranged long ago.

Probably because of Lin Dong's involvement, the improvement of the strength of the European league, the improvement of Japan, etc., this Olympics has undergone a major change from the list of participants in the 2008 Olympics in another world.

In addition to the champion of the last Olympics, the United States, and the host Longguo team, the other 12 teams participating in the Olympics this year were selected from the 2006 World Championships and some regional trials and elimination matches.

Group A is led by the host Dragon Country team, and also consists of six teams including Australia, Greece, Serbia, Angola and Brazil.

Group B is led by the United States team, and also includes Japan, Germany, Argentina, Lithuania and Spain.

Compared with the 2008 Olympics in another world, this list has been greatly different, but others don’t know. In Lin Dong’s eyes, his arrival has already brought about great changes in the world basketball landscape. It doesn’t matter how the participating teams change, because Dragon Country has only one opponent, that is, the United States.

The 12-man list of the US team emerged in his mind.

The back line includes Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, and Jason Kidd.

The forward line includes Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, Amar’e Stackmeyer, and Kevin Durant, who just won the championship with the Supersonics as a rookie this year and won the Best Rookie Award.

The centers are Tim Duncan, Chris Bosh, Kevin Garnett, and Dwight Howard, who did not emerge until Lin Dong left the NBA.

Compared with the American 2008 Dream Team in another world, this American team is obviously much stronger.

Although the back line is missing Michael Redd and Deron Williams, the forward line is also missing LeBron James and Prince, and the center is missing Los Boozer, who was once known to suppress Yao Ming in another world.

However, with Kobe and Wade already having evolved to their peak, a lineup of four super guards is more than enough for the US team.

This list, hand-picked by K, is clearly aimed at the Dragon National Men's Basketball Team, and it has completely included the strongest players in all positions in the NBA this year.

In the 2008 Olympics, the US team was beaten inside for a whole half when they met Yao Ming. That was because Duncan and Garnett were not there. It was obvious that they could not compete with Yao Ming, who was still in good physical condition, with only Bosh, who was still young, and Howard, who was completely restrained by Yao Ming.

So this time K's intention was already very clear. The super inside line of the US team was here to block Yao Ming.

Of course, the purpose of blocking Yao Ming is obviously not just because Yao Ming is strong, but to prevent the man who still stands at the top of the world from getting any support from his super teammates.

There are 12 historical superstars in the 12-man list. The personal strength of each person is obviously above everyone else in Longguo except Lin Dong and Yao Ming. This even includes Kobe and Wade who have surpassed another world limit, and Durant who entered his peak earlier.

With such a terrible lineup, it is no wonder that Lao K dared to shout out the slogan of "the strongest dream team in history" before setting off, and wanted to win the Longguo led by Lin Dong by more than 20 points.

In contrast, the slogan shouted by the Longguo Basketball Association is just to maintain the second place and compete for the championship.

For Longguo, this American team is obviously the biggest and only obstacle, and the two teams are not in the same group, so they will not meet in the group stage.

And judging from the current strength of the two teams that is one level above all other teams, as long as both sides win all the way, they are destined to meet in the finals.

The slogan of maintaining the second place is cautious, which is in line with the humble habits of the Eastern power.

However, compared to the "win the championship with all wins" shouted by Lao K, it undoubtedly seems to lack two points of courage and dominance, and it also makes countless fans around the world who are paying attention to this Olympics and the battle between the two basketball empires inevitably feel that the United States is stronger after all.

However, all this has become unimportant in Lin Dong's eyes.

Victory or defeat is won by fighting, not by shouting.

And this victory or defeat is destined to be recorded in the history books!