The Olympics is apparently defining the new generation of youth in China. According to this report from AFP, a Chinese newspaper has created the term “Bird’s Nest Generation” to describe young people who came of age while China was preparing for the Games:
The term – inspired by the nickname of the iconic National Stadium – covers those aged 10 to 29, about a third of China’s 1.3 billion people, who grew up during the nation’s preparations for the Olympics, China Youth Daily said.
“This term is all about self-confidence, the love of peace, patriotism, openness and friendliness,” the newspaper wrote.
The label was an apparent attempt to put a more positive spin on a generation often seen as spoiled and sometimes referred to as “little emperors” because of the one-child policy that focuses families’ entire hopes on them.