I’ve been living in Beijing for two and a half years. The Beijing 2008 logo, the rise of the National Stadium (AKA Bird’s Nest), the building of Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3, the subways, the highways, the airlines, the people, all those were a part of our lives here for the last two and half years. The buildup, the excitement, the preparations all were amazing. I while we were all taking a passive part in it, by standing in traffic and paying higher prices for almost everything, we were all part of it. We were waiting like everyone else for the Opening Ceremony. It was scheduled for August 8, 2008 at 8:00 PM. The date and the time was not coincidental. The number eight (Ba in Mandarin) is considered to be a lucky number. License plates and even phone numbers with plenty of eights in them are more expensive…
We planned the day, which turned out to be a mandatory day off for all Beijingers, so that no matter what, at 8:00 PM we would be sitting in front of the TV, watching the most watched event in human history (I don’t think the numbers are out yet, but I’m willing to bet this will be a record).
Let me see if I can line up enough superlatives for what we’ve been watching: spectacular, colorful, outstanding, amazing, thrilling, exhilarating, compelling, exciting, absolutely wonderful. I know, it’s not enough, but rather than spend the time looking up words in the thesaurus, I’d rather write a few words on our impressions. The glory of China in thousands of years of existence came to light. And what a beautiful show it was. Starting with an outstanding show of human coordination and synchronization, with the drums which literally never missed a beat. Hundreds if not more of drummers beating as if they were one. It really did feel like a large beating heart. The five circles Olympic logo rising up and into the air, was again, spectacular.
Fifty six children, representing fifty six ethnic groups, all dressed up in their ethnic clothes, marched through the stadium with the audience cheering excitedly. It was a real nice show of unity and representation. When it cam to the scroll, the rolling scroll, depicting inventions the Chinese are credited for – paper and print, compass and seismographs, sails, fireworks and more. Calligraphy shown in the grandest way. Again spectacular.
I have to admit that living in Beijing for so long, I have seen already a show or two of fireworks. None like last night. Computer synchronized, amazingly colorful, perfectly shaped. Another show of attention to the smallest details. Outstanding. The Olympic delegations strolling in, I must admit, took way too long, in my opinion. For the London designers of the opening ceremony I would suggest to have the delegations of athletes coming in from at least four gates rather than one, and cut the length of this phase to a quarter. It’s nice to watch two hundred and four delegations, many from countries I am not familiar with (some of which are brand new). But two hours was a little too much for me. I loved seeing the Israeli, the American, and the Chinese delegations, and I wish them all the best of luck in their attempts to get as many medals as possible.
The Olympic Torch coming in to the stadium was, again, spectacular. Li Ning, pulled up into the air, running in the air to light the Olympic Flame, was another show of absolutely outstanding choreography, and source of pride for everyone.
As for me, if I had to point out one thing that really got to me in a big way, literally, I would have no problem doing that. Yao Ming, the 2.26 meters (7″4′) star basketball player from the Houston Rockets, marching along with Lin Hao, the nine year old child, who not only survived the Sichuan earthquake on May 12, but also managed to have saved two of his classmates, would be it. To see this giant of a man, the realization of a dream for many Chinese, walking hand in hand with a small child, with an already larger than life story, was touching to all of us watching the ceremony together.
Lastly, from the comfort of my air-conditioned living room, and the 42″ TV, let me wish everyone a peaceful Olympiad, multitude of medals, plenty of pride to all. May the best men and women win! Let the games begin!
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