In the three days since the closing of the Olympics, many Chinese viewers who had been glued to the live broadcast of the Games over the past 17 days were feeling lost and prone to whining, according to psychological and educational experts.

Psychologists noted many viewers, who might still be obsessed with the sporting events, were unable to make a quick shift of their daily focus away from the Olympics to their pre-Games routine after the fast pace of the long-awaited Olympiad.

Lin Ye, a Shanghai-based psychological consultant, said clinical experience showed sports fans were prone to undergo a period of depression in the wake of major international sports events, such as the Olympics and the World Cup.

Through watching the same match, TV viewers and their families shared fun and excitement so that their home atmosphere became better; they temporarily forgot about worries in their work, he said.

When the Olympics ended on Sunday, they had to return to normal life and face the worries in their work, but often they were unable to adjust their mood so quickly, said Ye, who called this phenomenon "the Olympic Syndrome."

Psychological and educational experts said white-collar employees and students were among those seriously affected by the syndrome. These groups had often chosen to spend as much time as possible watching the Games by cutting time for sleep and eating.

Yang Xiaowei, a researcher on primary education at the East China Normal University, suggested those affected by "the Olympic Syndrome" could participate in more outdoor activities and make more friends to turn their attention away from TV.

In addition, they should reschedule their time and have more rest, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2008)