Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

I know, I am behind on this post. Bear with me while I document this historical event, the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Beijing Olympics.

Last Friday, 8 August 2008, (080808) almost everyone in my office left early to catch the 8:00pm Opening Ceremony of the XXIX Olympiad held in Beijing, China.

Once in a while we get to witness something spectacular and this Opening Ceremony must have topped the rest so far. It was an awesome show of tradition and technology combined.

Every bit of the Opening Ceremony was mesmerising, from the fireworks to the human great wall to the dancers to the drummers and their luminous drumsticks, Li Ning running to light the torch, the whole enchilada! Did anyone hear it being mentioned that the aerial shots of the footsteps and fireworks leading to the stadium were computer generated? Well, they were, but who cares! They add to the spectacular experience, didn't they?

The Games will be from August 8 to 24.

Most if not all of you would have watched the show so I won't bore you with my account but instead point you to a more interesting article from NBC.


Posted Friday, August 8, 2008 9:38 AM ET
BEIJING - On the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the millennium, China welcomed the world to the 29th Olympiad with a blockbuster opening ceremony that launched arguably the most anticipated and assuredly the most controversial Games in modern Olympic history.

Amid the roar of fireworks and elaborate tributes to China's 5,000-year-old civilization, athletes from 204 nations - of 205 - marched into Olympic Stadium, the steel-girded Birds' Nest, before dignitaries that included President Bush, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao. Only Brunei proved a no-show, failing Friday to register even one athlete.

Continue reading Games open on a Beijing high

Since I am documenting this sports milestone, I will have to include some memorable pictures. These photographs are from the NBC gallery of the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

The Olympic rings

Drummers

Another view of the drummers and the luminous drumsticks.

Fireworks over the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest

View of the fireworks from inside the National Stadium

Dancers

The Chinese flag is paraded into the National Stadium, carried by children in traditional costumes of the tribes in China.

Fireworks light up the sky over the National Aquatics Center (L) - nicknamed the Cube, and the National Stadium - Bird's Nest

A welcome message display on the stadium roof while the drummers were performing

The torch is lit during the end of the Opening Ceremony

A family watches the fireworks in Tiananmen Square

People watch the broadcast of the Opening Ceremony

Source: NBC

Beijing Olympics - 080808

A bird's eye view of the Bird's Nest

Exactly one month from today, the world would be focussing on Beijing, China, the venue of the Beijing Olympics 2008. The opening ceremony will be held at the new National Stadium dubbed the Bird's Nest for its design of a bird's nest. In the meantime, the city must almost be ready with its beautification efforts such as sprucing up its gardens as indicated in the following pictures.

Anyone planning to visit China from now until year-end would have to go through stringent measures in getting a visa.






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