Peking University, March 18, 2022: On March 13, 2022, the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games drew to a successful close. Richard N. Liu, Administrative Personnel for the Mission Staff of Team Canada , was one of the many international students from PKU who participated in the Olympics in various capacities. He was a special envoy of the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympic Games and enrolled in the PKU Department of Chinese Language and Literature as a Master’s student in 1997. During his return to China, he recalls his deep affection with the Olympics, PKU and China.

Attending the Olympics Again

Despite the freezing wind in Beijing, Liu was excited in introducing the Olympic venues, “Behind me is the brand new venue of the Olympic village, which I wish you could see as well.”
 

Richard Liu was studying at PKU from 1988 to 1989 and from 1993 to 1997, and became a master student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature in 1997. He has worked in Beijing for nearly 20 years, in the fields of diplomacy, public relations and education. In the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Liu served as special envoy for Canadian Paralympians and introduced Chinese culture to them. Liu was quite excited about his return to Beijing Olympics 14 years later. Although he could not revisit PKU due to the policy of closed loop for epidemic prevention, he would excitedly point out the PKU campus to people around him whenever the bus passed the campus.
 


As one of the few who are well-versed in Chinese, Liu was in charge of the logistics liaison and support of the Canadian Olympic Delegation. What impressed Liu most was the mass performance Together for a Shared Future in which people from different cultural backgrounds gathered together, surrounded by the charming Bing Dwen Dwen and colorful lights. Liu has also collected many seals and toys of Bing Dwen Dwen. As for the difference between the 2008 and 2022 Olympics, Liu replied wittily: “The weather of course, which was hot in 2008 while freezing this year. But the people are enthusiastic likewise!”
 
 
 

Recalling the Time in Shao Yuan

The mix of multiple cultures in the Olympic village made Liu reminisce about his time studying in PKU. His study journey to China was closely related to his family background, where his grandfather Liu Shishun served as the first Chinese Ambassador to Canada, and his father Liu Dunren, educator, author and entrepreneur, was devoted to the promotion of Sino-Canadian public diplomacy. Liu Dunren successfully helped to bring about the establishment of the first pair of sister cities between China and Canada in 1980 and led an American student group to visit PKU in the early 1980s, where he was acquainted with several PKU teachers who were in charge of the management of international students, like Prof. Huang Daolin and Prof. Mu Shufen. In 1988, Richard N. Liu came to PKU to learn Mandarin after graduating from a Canadian high school. He still remembers the simple life at that time with the esteemed professors and company of lifelong friends.

 

On the 100th anniversary of PKU in 1988, Liu attended the performance on Beijing TV singing Shao Yuan with his schoolmates. In 2010, Liu published “Recalling of Shao Yuan”, in which he talked about the diversity and tolerance of PKU, and his decision to devote himself to society after graduation.
 
 

Remembering his Roots

Liu was born in Toronto, Canada, and grew up in British Colombia. His Chinese name “Nianzu” (remembering one’s roots) was given by his father as a reminder of the elder generation’s deep affection for their hometown. As a result of the bilingual environment he grew up in, Liu speaks both Chinese and English fluently, which led to some interesting experiences in China. Many years ago when Liu took a taxi with an American friend, the driver praised his English and the latter’s Chinese, while he did not realize Liu was actually a Canadian who learned Chinese. Liu took the driver’s words as affirmation of his effort and Chinese roots.

Liu puts great effort in the promotion of cultural and public dialogue between China and Canada, an ode to his family background. Liu once participated in the coordination of media relations of the Canadian trade mission to China in 1994 dispatched by Jean Chretien, previous prime minister of Canada, and in 1998 was in the logistics team of the Canadian Embassy for the prime minister's delegation to China. In 2003, Liu founded the "Canadians in Beijing" organization and the Canadian Chinese Alumni Network (CAN), to connect Canadian alumni studying in higher education institutions in China.

Besides public diplomacy, Liu is also involved in public welfare. He served as honorary president of the Burnaby division of the St. John's Ambulance in Canada and also one of the core members of Terry Fox run in Beijing. He also invited the Canadian community to support the movement of people with intellectual disabilities for more than 10 years, including sponsoring the Canadian team to participate in the 2007 Shanghai Special Olympic World Summer Games. Liu enjoys the satisfaction from helping others and said: “It was the hard work of Chinese volunteers that made the Olympic Games a success. We are all a team and work hard for a better future!”
 
Liu and friends from Canadian Embassy in China beside the Weiming Lake in 1999
Although the Liu family has emigrated to Canada for many years, they still keep the tradition of celebrating Spring Festival. Despite the different historical circumstances, Liu and his elder generations are all enthusiastic in promoting Sino-Canadian communication. Liu has committed his whole passion to volunteering in Winter Olympic Games so that humanity can work “together for a shared future”.

Liu extends his sincere blessings for PKU: “I hope to return to my alma mater again, and wish all teachers and students can achieve their expectations. Wishing for the progress and prosperity of Peking University!”

Written by: An Xinyu
Edited by: Ng Joong Hwee
Source: ISDPKU(Chinese)