It was a big celebration in UB last night. Here is an article about Mongolia's first ever Olympic Gold Medal. Tuvshinbayar is a not a household name anywhere else, but Phelps can't hold a candle to him here.
But while it was the large quantities of gold that divided parties in the election turmoil, a particulary small amount of the commodity was able to unite people from the three key figures on the square to every man in the street. Again army personal had to come rushing to protect the government house from a wild crowd, but this time there were no ill motives. Singer Javkhlan had become the center of the crowd's euforie and he was mangled from the one side of the square to the other, where on the roof of his car he sang one of is famous songs. People greeted and hi-fived strangers, cars were driving past with passengers holding flags while screaming and yelling of joy. From high government officials to street kids, everyone joint in one of the most overwhelming displays of celebration in Mongolia's recent history. The Genghis Khan statue was looking motionless over the crowd that celebrated until deep in the night for their new national hero.
Needless to say, that with our apartment only about two blocks off the square, the noise and jubilation kept us up later than normal (they were going strong when I finally dozed off at about 1:30 AM). But it was a special day for Mongolians everywhere.
You can read the full article here:
Mongolia Web News - In Mongolia Gold Divides, Gold Unites.
Article originally appeared on Remember Mongolia (https://www.remembermongolia.org/).
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