The Beijing Olympics 2008 were launched on August 8th with an inspiring four-and-a-half hour opening ceremony which thrilled audiences around the world, with over 840 million television watchers in China alone.
Described as a multi-dimensional, multi-media melding of historical and modern concepts, the ceremonies featured 14,000 performers, including drummers, fireworks, emotion-evoking music and dancers in lighted costumes. As well, a gigantic scroll, which unfurled around the Olympic huge stadium known as the Bird’s Nest, as athletes from 204 countries paraded before 61,000 spectators, was impressive.
The concept of the scroll emerged early in the planning stages for the 2008 games, and most of the original program ideas unfolded around it, forming the artistic concept of "displaying the world on a small square," demonstrating the progress of blending Chinese culture with world culture. Former gymnast former gymnast Li Ning, lifted into mid-air with wires after he received the Olympic flame, "ran" along the 500-meter-long brim of the Bird's Nest to reach the gigantic cauldron, which he ignited using the flame from his torch.
Honorary life president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, was in attendance and recognized the efforts of the Chinese people, not only in Beijing, but in all of China, in making the games a reality.
But the thrills and victories of opening day were spoiled by the stabbing of an American when a Chinese man killed one and badly injured another relative of the coaching US team before committing suicide. The attack appeared to be unprovoked as the visitors were not easily identified as being from a specific nation. The incident did not halt the proceedings and local fans were further rewarded later in the day when Chinese athletes won gold medals in women’s weightlifting and men’s 10-metre air pistol. After three days of competition, China is currently tied with the United States with eight medals, with Korea and Italy are close behind.
To no one’s surprise, Masdato Uchishiba of Japan, who had won gold in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, defeated Benjamin Darbelet of France to take gold again in the under 66 kg division of the judo competition. The 30-year-old winner has been reported as saying the 2008 games may be his last so the victory was sweet, although his wins at world and Asian championships have been consistent.
World records are tumbling as athletes perform astounding feats of endurance. In men’s 400 metre freestyle preliminaries of swimming, the US foursome of Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner, and Matt Grevers toppled the world record, set in Canada in 2006, with a time of 3:12.23. And popular Michael Phelps, also from the USA, bought fans to their feet when he broke his own Olympic record, set in Athens in 2004, with a time of 4:07:82 in the men’s 400metre Individual Medley.
In other news, the first-ever Olympic Expo opened in Beijing on August 8th containing memorabilia such as pins, works of art from past Olympic Games, and other never-before-seen artifacts from the Olympic Museum in Switzerland. As well, postage stamps from 23 different countries include an historic edition from the 1896 Athens Olympics. With the theme “Light the Passion, Share the Dream,” the Expo is proving to be popular with visitors, athletes, tourists and local residents.
One thing is certain: these games are expected to be the best photographed ever, with thousands of photographers from around the world in attendance. The IOC itself has sent an elite team of two dozen photographers to the country, who are expected to take over 70,000 pictures with 25,000 chosen to become a permanent part of the Olympic 2008 database. It is indeed fitting that the historic Games are being recorded for viewers of tomorrow.
