2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

The 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was held at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest". It began at 8:00 pm China Standard Time (UTC+8) on August 8, 2008, as 8 is considered to be a lucky number. [cite web|url=http://www.tickets.beijing2008.cn/browse?category=8224&major_category=8224&game_type=olympic|title=Tickets Infomation - The official ticketing website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games] [ [http://www.travelchinaguide.com/news/show.asp?nid=138 "Beijing Confirms the Opening Ceremony Time for 2008 Olympics"] , Travel China Guide. Retrieved on August 2, 2008] [cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/tickets/photo/samples/n214320213.shtml|title=Photo: Opening ceremony sample ticket|date=2008-04-23|publisher=Official website] [cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/n214508163.shtml|title=Opening Ceremony plan released|date=2008-08-06|publisher=Official website|accessdate=2008-08-08] [cite web|url=http://www.omegawatches.com/index.php?id=1098&L=|title=Beijing 2008 As the final seconds ticked away|publisher=Omega, official timekeeper] The number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in Chinese culture.cite web |url=http://afgen.com/china8.html |title=The Number Eight And The Chinese |accessdate=2007-04-22] However, some sources reported the start time for the ceremony to be 8:08:08 pm instead of 8:00 pm. [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2519808/Beijing-Olympics-opening-ceremony-timeline.html|title=Beijing Olympics opening ceremony timeline - Telegraph|publisher=London Telegraph|accessdate=2008-09-12] cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/2008_olympics_opening_ceremony.html|title=2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony - The Big Picture - Boston.com|date=August 8, 08 02:38 PM|accessdate=2008-09-12] Organisers claim that the stadium was full to its 91,000 capacity. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7550283.stm|title=Spectators awed as Games begin|publisher=BBC|date=2008-08-09|accessdate=2008-08-09]

The ceremony was co-directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou along with Chinese choreographers Zhang Jigang and Chen Weiya. The director of music for the ceremony was composer Chen Qigang. [http://en.beijing2008.cn/culture/ceremonies/n214143744.shtml] [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214521306.shtml How the Opening Ceremony was born] ] [ [http://radio86.co.uk/node/7480/print Behind the 29th Olympic Opening Ceremony] ] It was noted for its focus on ancient Chinese culture, and for its creativity, as well as being the first to use weather modification technology to prevent rainfall. [ [http://mag.udn.com/mag/beijing2008/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=141350 開幕人工消雨 千枚火箭彈攔截雲朵] [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/09/content_9079637.htm] ] The final ascent to the torch featured Olympic gymnast Li Ning, who appeared to run through air around the top ring of the stadium. Featuring more than 15,000 performers, the ceremony lasted over four hours and was reported to have cost over US$100 million to produce. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93420251] The opening ceremony was lauded by spectators and various international presses as spectacular and spellbinding. [cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ibNAUAq-kZNOy3LmO9HAI2cN-smg|title=Press hails 'greatest ever' Olympic opening show|publisher=Agence France-Presse|date=2008-08-09|accessdate=2008-08-09]

Attending heads of state

More than 100 heads of state, heads of government and sovereigns attended the opening ceremony. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/08/olympics.opening/?iref=mpstoryview Olympics Opening] ] [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/olympicsNews/idUST30989220080806?sp=true Olympic News - Reuters] ] The number of heads of state who attended the opening ceremony was by far the largest in Olympic history. [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/6466194.html] [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/07/content_9033271.htm] [ [http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/beijing_lifts_air_quality_goal_for_games_537003 "Beijing lifts air quality goal for games"] , World News Australia]

equence of events

Welcoming ceremony

The opening ceremony proper began with a contemporary drum sequence by 2,008 Fou drummers [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/08/content_9052538.htm Ancient Chinese music at Beijing Olympics opening] ] on a backdrop of a giant LED paper scroll, representing the first great Chinese inventions, paper, and displaying animated graphics. The LED-embedded Fou drums and their glowing drumsticks were lit up by the drummers. In formation, the drummers lit their drums to form giant digits (in both Arabic and Chinese numerals) to countdown the final seconds to the Games and herald the start of the opening time of 8:00 p.m. local time, in continuation of the 8/08/08 opening date. [ However, it was later revealed that most were fake and digitally created. [http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/openingceremony/s214515869/] ] [ [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2008/08/07/olympics-ceremonies.html?ref=rss Beijing dazzles: Chinese history, athletes on parade as Olympics begin] August 8, 2008, CBC Sports.]

A trail of 29 fireworks, another of the great Chinese inventions, in the shape of footprints were let off marching along Beijing city's central axis into the national stadium. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4488833.ece Olympics: the power and the glory - China leaves world in Olympics opening ceremony footage"] , Davey Winder, August 12, 2008.] The firework footprints were set off at the rate of 1 every second, each represented one of the 29 Olympiads, signifying the Beijing Olympics as the XXIX Olympiad of the modern era.

Next, twenty "fairies" (Buddhist apsaras of the Mogao Caves) were suspended in midair as they hovered near giant Olympic rings, [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/openingceremony/s214515869/] ] each holding 45,000 beads. [ [http://www.denverpost.com/nationalpolitics/ci_10140233] "Opening ceremonies wow crowd". John Henderson, "The Denver Post", August 8, 2008.] The Olympics rings were then lifted up high vertically to show the complete Olympics emblem.

Attention was then turned to 56 young children representing the 56 ethnic groups of modern China, each donning their ethnic costume. They marched in the flag of the People's Republic of China as a young girl in red, 9-year-old Lin Miaoke, was seen performing "Ode to the Motherland" while listeners heard the voice of Yang Peiyi, a seven-year-old.cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/sports/olympics/13beijing.html?ex=1376366400&en=ae38339add1f8a4f&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink|title=In Grand Olympic Show, Some Sleight of Voice|last=Yardley|first=Jim|date=2008-08-13|work=www.newyorktimes.com|publisher=The New York Times|language=English|accessdate=2008-08-13] Some controversial phrases in the lyrics of "Ode to the Motherland" like "Whoever dares to infringe upon us/We shall call for his destruction!" were removed. [ [http://www.mingpaonews.com/20080812/cav1.htm 中國評論﹕京奧開幕式看不一樣的中國] ] The vast majority who watched the broadcast did not know of Yang Peiyi's role until several days later when music director Chen Qigang acknowledged in a Beijing Radio interview that Lin had been chosen to sing in part for her "flawless [...] image, internal feeling, and expression" while Yang Peiyi had been chosen for her voice.. This revelation has triggered similar controversy on Sydney Symphonic Orchestra's miming to Melbourne Symphonic Orchestra performance throughout the 2000 Olympics opening ceremony, as revealed in major Australian newspapers.

The flag of the People's Republic of China was then handed over to People's Liberation Army soldiers and its national anthem was sung by a 224-member choir while the flag was raised.

Artistic section

At the prelude to the section, "Beautiful Olympics", a short film was screened depicting the making of paper, another of the Four Great Inventions. Ceramics, porcelain vessels and other Chinese fine arts artifacts were beamed on a giant scroll slowly unfurling. At its center was a piece of white canvas paper, which then ushered in a performance of black-costumed dancers whose hands hid brushes that had been dipped in ink. They performed a dance while leaving their trails on the block of white paper, reminiscent of Chinese ink and wash art. [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/09/content_9063343.htm Feature: Chinese culture shines at dazzling Olympics opening ceremony] 2008-08-09. ] This is accompanied by the sounds of the guqin, China's ancient 7 string zither, as played by Chen Leiji (陳雷激).

The giant scroll was then moved aside to show a fluid array of 897 movable type blocks that formed three variations of the character 和 (harmony), representing the third great Chinese invention: the movable type press. The character was shown, consecutively, in Bronze inscription, Seal script and modern Songti kaishu (Modern Chinese Script). 810 Han Dynasty-era performers representing the 3000 Disciples of Confucius, wearing feathered headgears and carrying bamboo slips, recited excerpts from the "Analects": "Isn't it great to have friends coming from afar?" and "All men are brothers within the four seas." The blocks changed swiftly into a small-sized version of the Great Wall, which then sprouted peach blossoms, the Chinese symbol for openness. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24154826-661,00.html] ] [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4488833.ece Olympics: the power and the glory - China leaves world awestruck] ] At the end of the sequence the tops of the movable type blocks came off to reveal 897 performers, who waved vigorously to the crowds.The next segment saw ancient terracotta soldiers and Chinese opera, [ [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2008/08/07/olympics-ceremonies.html?ref=rss Beijing dazzles: Chinese history, athletes on parade as Olympics begin] August 8, 2008, CBC Sports.] followed by a Beijing opera puppetry performance. The different types of Beijing opera performers were also enacted. Next, a troupe of female dancers dressed in Tang-era clothing entered, suspended by a rectangular extension held by hundreds of performers. On the ground was the map of the Silk Road. Another procession of men, in blue dress, with oars forming pictures of junks, symbolized the voyages of Zheng He. There was a celebration of the next great Chinese invention, the compass, which was in its ancient form, a metal spoon floating in a fluid suspensible vessel.

The next segment featured Kunqu, one of the oldest extant Chinese operas, with two opera artistes, a male singing and a female accompanying on a guzheng. Another male performer then paints on the scroll painting with a Chinese brush in front of several guzheng players.

At this point, two rows of royal dragon pillars called "huabiao" (华表) emerged as pink and orange fireworks were set off overhead, followed by a segment where pianists Lang Lang and five-year-old Li Muzi [ [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-08/09/content_6918903.htm Lang delights the crowd with moving performance] Chen Jie, "China Daily" Staff Writer.] performed a melody from the Yellow River Cantata. Around the pianists a sea of rainbow-coloured luminescent performers swayed in wave-like unison to symbolize the flow of the Yellow River. The illuminated dancers, symbolizing modern-day China, then arranged themselves in the shape of the Dove of Peace, whose wings were then set into motion as the performers moved about.

Next, one thousand performers in green costume formed the bird nest shape of the Beijing National Stadium. A young girl flew a kite at mid-air, suspended from wires, as performers flickered light in an intricate pattern.

A Tai Chi performance by 2,008 Tai Chi masters [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/08/content_9054650.htm Art performance of Beijing Olympics opening ceremony showcases Chinese culture] www.chinaview.cn, 2008-08-08] in white showed the fluid movements achieved when in harmony with nature.

Next came a skit with schoolchildren drawing and colouring on the giant scroll and chanting poetry. These were the same children representing the 56 ethnic groups of China. They symbolized a Green Olympics (to protect the world). As their sequence drew to an end, the giant white paper was lifted vertically to reveal a drawing of mountains and waters with a smiling face as the sun.

There was a light presentation showing brightly-coloured flying birds, symbolizing the rebirth of the phoenix and the bird-nest stadium itself.

The next segment saw the arrival of the astronaut - symbolizing modern space exploration with a gigantic, 60-foot, 16-tonned [ [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2008/08/07/olympics-ceremonies.html?ref=rss Beijing dazzles: Chinese history, athletes on parade as Olympics begin] August 8, 2008, CBC Sports.] ball structure representing the earth. 58 acrobats tumbled rightside up, sideways or upside down on its surface, which was then transformed into a glowing Chinese red lantern.

The Chinese singer Liu Huan and British singer Sarah Brightman, standing on the central platform, sang the 2008 Olympic theme song: "You and Me". [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4488833.ece Olympics: the power and the glory - China leaves world awestruck] ]

2,008 performers then held out parasols with smiling faces of young children. [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080812f1.html Most of the smiling photos are collected by MERRY PROJECT.] ] This was followed by red and orange fireworks in the form of smiley faces. The representatives from the 56 ethnic groups danced a vigorous folk dance. One western newspaper reported however that the children were not from their actual ethnic groups [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2561979/Beijing-Olympics-Ethnic-children-exposed-as-fakes-in-opening-ceremony.html 'Ethnic' children exposed as fakes in opening ceremony] -The Daily Telegraph]

Parade of nations

The athletes taking part in the 29th Olympiad parade of nations marched out to the centre of the Stadium.

In accordance with Olympic tradition, the national team of Greece entered first; the host country came last. Traditionally nations are ordered in alphabetic order of the national language of the host country; As Chinese writing is not alphabetic, the teams paraded by stroke order of the first character of their respective countries' names in Simplified Chinese. [cite web|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/n214508163.shtml|title=Opening Ceremony plan released - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games] Countries with the same number of strokes in the first character are sorted by those of the next character. This made Guinea (几内亚) the second country to enter following Greece as it only takes two strokes to write the first character in the country's name (几). Australia (澳大利亚) marched 202nd, just ahead of Zambia (赞比亚), which was the last country to march before China. [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200807/s2318161.htm?tab=sport "Olympics athletes march to be done to different drum"] , ABC Radio Australia, July 29, 2008] The first characters of these countries' names ( _zh. and _zh. ) are both written 16 strokes; the second characters ( _zh. and _zh. ) are three and four strokes respectively.

Announcers in the stadium read off the names of the marching nations in French, English, and Standard Mandarin with music accompanying the athletes as they marched into the stadium. The leading signs of delegations, carried by young Chinese women in stylish red dresses, had their names in these three languages printed in Chinese calligraphy style. Chinese names of most states were condensed to their short form when possible. For example, Bosnia and Herzegovina (波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那) entered as "Bohei" (波黑) in Chinese, while Saudi Arabia (沙特阿拉伯) entered as simply "Shate" (沙特). The exception was the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which entered in Chinese as its full designation (前南斯拉夫马其顿共和国) because of the Macedonia naming dispute. China entered as "People's Republic of China" in English and French, but simply as "Zhongguo" (中国) in Chinese.

The athletes marched along the tracks toward the center of the stadium, which was encircled by white-capped Chinese cheerleaders welcoming each contingent. As they did so, they would step on colored ink before treading on the Chinese painting done earlier by the children and the performance artists.

Unlike in previous years, North and South Korea did not send a unified team; their athletes marched in separately as Korea Republic (South Korea, zh-c|c=韩国) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea, zh-c|朝鲜民主主义人民共和国). [cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4482499.ece | title=North and South Korea to march separately in Olympics opening ceremony, although both 韩国 and 朝鲜 are of 12 strokes thus could have marched together. | first=Sophie | last=Tedmanson | date=August 8, 2008 | accessmonthday=August 9 | accessyear=2008 | publisher=CNN] Taiwan marched under the name "Chinese Taipei" (zh-s|中华台北) per a 1989 agreement - and the Chinese media has seemed to follow suit, referring to Taiwan as "Zhonghua Taibei" (zh-t|中華台北). [cite web | url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/07/25/2003418502 | title=Taiwan’s Olympic title fuels controversy | author=Shih Hsiu-Chuan | author2=Ko Shu-Ling | date=July 25, 2008 | accessmonthday=August 9 | accessyear=2008 | publisher=Taipei Times] [cite web | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/writers/brian_cazeneuve/08/08/li.ning/ | title=China makes its opening statement | author=Brian Cazeneuve | date=August 8, 2008 | accessmonthday=August 9 | accessyear=2008 | publisher=CNN]

The Chinese contingent, which was last, was led by Yao Ming and Lin Hao, the 9-year-old primary school student who had rescued two schoolmates during the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake. [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214518587.shtml Yao Ming and boy from quake zone lead Team China into opening ceremony] ] [ [http://mvn.com/olympics/2008/08/09/beijings-opening-ceremony-finds-a-hero/ Beijing's Opening Ceremony Finds a Hero] Mary Hughes, August 9, 2008, Most Valuable Network, MA]

peeches by the Presidents

Liu Qi, the head of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, gave a speech in Mandarin welcoming the athletes. Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee, followed with a speech in English, praising the Chinese for their warm reception and effort. He urged the athletes to "have fun" and to reject doping and performance enhancement drugs. This reminder was reiterated in French. Afterward, Hu Jintao, the President of the People's Republic of China, formally announced the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics. [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214518560.shtml Chinese President Hu Jintao declares open Beijing Olympic Games] ]

The Olympic flag was carried in by eight former athletes from China. They were:

*Zhang Xielin (table-tennis)
*Pan Duo (Everest mountaineer)
*Zheng Fengrong (athletics)
*Yang Yang (A) (short track speed skating)
*Yang Ling (shooting)
*Mu Xiangxiong (swimming)
*Xiong Ni (diving)
*Li Lingwei (badminton)

They then passed on the flag to soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army as the flag was raised and the Olympic anthem played. A multinational chorus of 80 children sang the Olympic Anthem in Greek. Chinese table tennis champion Zhang Yining and arbiter Huang Liping took the Olympic oath, representing athletes and officials respectively.

There was a short dance presentation, followed by bright yellow fireworks - representing the release of doves of peace.

Torch relay and the lighting of the flame cauldron

At this point, the Olympic flame entered the stadium as a continuation of the Beijing relay leg from the outside. The Olympic torch was relayed around the stadium by 7 athletes, and was finally passed on to Li Ning, the former Olympic gymnast champion, the 8th and final athlete.

The eight athletes were, in order:
*Xu Haifeng (shooting, China's first Olympic gold medalist in any event, 1984)
*Gao Min (diving, China's first repeat Olympic gold medalist in any event, 1988 and 1992)
*Li Xiaoshuang (gymnastics, China's first gymnastics all-around World Champion and Olympic gold medalist, 1996)
*Zhan Xugang (weightlifting, China's first double Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting, 1996 and 2000)
*Zhang Jun (badminton, double Olympic gold medalist in mixed doubles badminton, 2000 and 2004)
*Chen Zhong (taekwondo, China's first and double taekwondo gold medalist, 2000 and 2004)
*Sun Jinfang (volleyball, member of team that won China's first major championship in a team sport)
*Li Ning (gymnastics, China's most decorated athlete at its first Olympics, 1984)

Li Ning, who was suspended by wires, then appeared to run horizontally along the walls of the stadium through to the Olympic cauldron, which at this moment was still not shown. As he ran along the upper wall of the stadium, the projection displayed an opening scroll, usually ahead of him, on which was beamed footages of previous torch relays around the world. At the final moment, a spotlight revealed the final resting place of the Olympics flame. A colossal torch situated at the top of the stadium was lit by a proportionately large fuse. [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214518986.shtml Former gymnast Li Ning lights Olympic cauldron] ]

A flurry of spectacular fireworks of various colours and shapes, some projecting Olympic rings, others forming hoops, flower outwards, fountain or float down, accompanied the ending of the ceremony. The ceremony ended at 12:09 am, August 9, 2008 CST, which was later than the time originally planned: 11:30 pm, August 8.

Encore

As the audience started to exit the stadium, singers from Mainland China and Hong Kong came onto the stage to provide music as a way to stall the audience from leaving all at once. Jackie Chan, Karen Mok, Han Hong, and Sun Nan (孙楠) sang the first song, "Stand Up"; while Andy Lau, Nicolas Tse, Joey Yung, Wakin Chau, Wang Feng, and Sun Yue sang the second song, "Cheering for Life". Since the ceremony was already overtime by then, this portion was not televised. [ [http://hk.news.yahoo.com/article/080809/3/7m25.html 華仔鳥巢獻唱 港人無眼福 祖兒見證奧運開幕 感動想喊] , "Sing Tao Daily". 2008-08-10.]

Originally scheduled

In 2006 the Beijing Organizing Committee (BOCOG) initially chose American film maker Steven Spielberg, Yves Pepin, head of the French entertainment group ECA2, and Sydney Games opening ceremony director Ric Birch as special consultants. [Chinadaily. " [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2006-04/17/content_569818.htm Chinadaily] ." "Zhang Yimou to direct opening ceremony of Beijing Olypmics." Retrieved on 2008-07-04.] In February 2008, Spielberg pulled out of his role as advisor in protest over China’s continuing support of the Sudanese government and the escalating violence in the Darfur region. [cite web|title=Spielberg drops out as Beijing Olympics advisor|year=2008|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Rachel Abramowitz|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-spielberg13feb13,1,7027646.story?ctrack=2&cset=true
accessdate=2007-02-13]

Gillian Chung was originally scheduled to be a performer at the opening ceremony, but due to the Edison Chen photo scandal, director Zhang Yimou replaced her and her partner, Charlene Choi(not involved in the photo incident) with PRC C-pop act A-One. [Sydney morning herald. " [http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/dirty-downloads-diva-axed/2008/02/26/1203788320287.html "Dirty downloads: diva axed from Olympic ceremony"] Sydney Morning Herald, February 26, 2008, retrieved on July 21, 2008.] A-One was not a part of the performances on August 8.

Incidents and controversies

Accident during rehearsals

Liu Yan, one of China’s top classical Chinese dancers, fell from a three-meter high platform during practice on July 27, 2008 and sustained severe spinal injuries. She was paralyzed waist-down after a six-hour operation. Despite her not performing in the ceremony proper, deputy director Zhang Jigang ensured Liu's name was written in the program as the lead dancer. [ [http://www.china.org.cn/olympics/news/2008-08/13/content_16210345.htm Tragedy of paralyzed Olympic dancer] ]

In an interview after visiting Liu Yan in the hospital, Director Zhang Yimou said, "I feel sorry for Liu Yan, my heart is full of regrets, I’m deeply sorry. Liu Yan is a heroine. She sacrificed a lot for the Olympics, for me, for the opening ceremony." Shortly after the opening ceremony, in an earlier media interview, Zhang expressed: "I regret many things, many details of this performance, many things I could have done better. For example, there are performers who were injured. I blame myself for that." [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/sports/olympics/15dancer.html Behind the Opening Ceremony, a Paralyzing Fall] ]

Rehearsal leakage

The South Korean Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) secretly filmed rehearsals of the opening ceremony and leaked parts of it, violating a prohibition by the Organizing Committee. [ [http://www.stuff.co.nz/4638229a12.html "Beijing opening ceremony leaked"] , "Sydney Morning Herald", July 31, 2008] The video was uploaded at YouTube on July 30, 2008, but was deleted soon after its upload. [cite video | title = Deleted video | url = http://www.youtube.com/browse?&session=xsDv3usFW3-anyx4W0GqtFvl8YA3002Fs9nFUAZs3nDgnjDzBoEY86v5PGjzTjDkVWKw8iduoWAgFUmBf9Wgx2-7syyCcVW08v2J_dntGbW-_ngc6P_CkDyCBFMejAgAW-VYr2RzYIqELmBdTxUjBPlWbQ5DcgTdjE3pWdZxnVs-aZsMlLUvGjvskA4N6-WB2MsFT49NuK-2zFLYNqYlIR9k3yx6kCsZQBJIMV9f6tic5sk7LpMWVtSH2wdLTvA8pismmPg5c7JBZ63YmJYqX9AuMUunqYAUxJr7CjHBgfW6gc1o73qqvAmNbWYlIJX2o6sHWQ_5gz8A1sp5V04q7Q= | publisher = YouTube | year2 = 2008-07-30 ] However, several additional videos have been uploaded by other users. [cite video | title = Beijing Olympics 2008 Opening Preview | url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C061FHGlUOw&feature=related | medium = Seoul Broadcasting System | publisher = YouTube | year2 = 2008-07-30 ] [cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-07-31/014016030594.shtml|title=韩媒曝光北京奥运开幕式细节遭网友谴责 (Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony details made public)] The Organizing Committee investigated the unauthorized filming, [cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/364009/1/.html|title=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/364009/1/.html ] and on August 6, 2008, banned SBS cameras inside the stadium during the ceremony as reprisals for the leak. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26056096 Broadcaster banned for Olympic breach] ]

Girl lip-synching to recording by another singer

The song "Ode to the Motherland" appeared to be sung by Lin Miaoke at the ceremony, but it emerged she had mimed her performance to a recording by another girl, Yang Peiyi. It was a last minute decision to use lip-synching, following a Politburo member's objection to Lin’s voice. [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?video_id=UcC6CsCicTQ|title= The radio interview of the music director Chen Qigang] [cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2545387/Beijing-Olympics-Faking-scandal-over-girl-who-sang-in-opening-ceremony.html| title=Beijing Olympics Faking scandal over girl who sang in opening ceremony| publisher=The Daily Telegraph| date=2008-08-12] [ [http://vhead.blog.sina.com.cn/player/outer_player.swf?auto=1&vid=15565476&uid=1267084551] ] [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7556058.stm| title=China Olympic ceremony star mimed| publisher=BBC News| date=2008-08-12] International Olympic Committee executive director Gilbert Felli defended the use of a more photogenic double. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=6&art_id=nw20080813092304750C677298] ]

Performers at previous Olympic opening ceremonies had occasionally synched to recordings of their own performance, such as the tenor Luciano Pavarotti at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, due to his pancreatic cancer ["The late Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, in great pain from pancreatic cancer, did so at the Turin Winter Games in 2006, although the voice that was heard was his own."cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-fg-lipsync13-2008aug13,0,5791375,full.story|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2008-08-13|author=Mark Magnier|title=China abuzz over lip-syncing singer in Olympics opening ceremony] . The Sydney Symphony Orchestra appeared to perform at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, but the music spectators heard was entirely pre-recorded, with some of the music pre-recorded by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. ["'It [the performance] was all pre-recorded and the MSO did record a minority of the music that was performed,' the Sydney Symphony's managing director, Libby Christie, said yesterday. 'It's correct that we were basically miming to a pre-recording.'"cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/sydney-olympics-faked-opening-too/2008/08/26/1219516425771.html|title=Revealed: Sydney faked it too|author=Richard Jinman|date=2008-08-26|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia)]

Computer-simulated fireworks

Television coverage of the fireworks show that displayed the 29 firework "footprints" outside the stadium was simulated by computer animation. [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2534499/Beijing-Olympic-2008-opening-ceremony-giant-firework-footprints-faked.html| title=Beijing Olympic 2008 opening ceremony giant firework footprints 'faked'| publisher="The Telegraph"| date=2008-08-10] [cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/08/12/fake.fireworks.ap/| title= Beijing enhanced Olympic show with faked 'fireworks'| publisher=CNN | date=2008-08-12 | accessdate=2008-08-12] Twenty-nine sets of fireworks in the shape of a footprint did actually go off, but it was decided that it would be difficult and dangerous to get a good shot from helicopters capturing all 29 of the footsteps (which went off every two seconds), so a CGI of 28 of the footprints was made for television broadcasts, and only the last one was filmed live. The 55 seconds of display took the BOCOG a year to choreograph. The substitution of CGI footage was mentioned during the time-delayed U.S. broadcast of the ceremony on NBC by announcers Matt Lauer and Bob Costas. ["NBC broadcasters Matt Lauer and Bob Costas made mention of the alteration as it aired. 'You’re looking at a cinematic device employed by Zhang Yimou here,' Lauer said. 'This is actually almost animation. A footstep a second, 29 in all, to signify the 29 Olympiads.' Costas responded, 'We said earlier that aspects of this Opening Ceremony are almost like cinema in real time. Well this is quite literally cinematic.'" cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26139005/|title=Part of Olympic display altered in broadcast|date=2008-08-11|publisher=MSNBC] ["Critics carped that viewers were deceived, but NBC Sports spokesman Adam Freifeld shrugged it off. 'It's not our production,' Freifeld told NPR from Beijing. 'Our guys are very clear that this was animation.' 'Our guys' being Matt Lauer of NBC News' Today Show, and Bob Costas of NBC Sports, who were announcing the ceremonies." cite web|publisher=NPR|author= David Folkenflik|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93522548|title=Live From Beijing: Computer-Enhanced Fireworks|date=2008-08-12] ["Olympic broadcaster NBC... said it had been candid with viewers that the fireworks they were watching were, in fact, pre-produced in a studio. 'We said earlier that aspects of this opening ceremony are almost like cinema in real time,' announcer Bob Costas told his audience. 'Well this is quite literally cinematic.'"cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-fg-lipsync13-2008aug13,0,5791375,full.story|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=2008-08-13|author=Mark Magnier|title=China abuzz over lip-syncing singer in Olympics opening ceremony]

Children representing minority groups

On August 15, Wang Wei, the vice president of the BOCOG confirmed that children who appeared in the opening ceremony in the costumes of the 56 ethnic groups of modern China did not belong to the ethnic minorities their costumes indicated, as described in publicity materials, but instead all or most were members of the majority Han Chinese. Wang said it was "traditional" and not unusual for actors in China to wear different ethnic costumes. [cite web |url=http://www.asahi.com/showbiz/enews/RTR200808150096.html/| title= 五輪開会式でまた問題発覚、民族衣装の子供も「やらせ」 |publisher=asahi.com | date=2008-08-15 | accessdate=2008-08-15] [cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2561979/Beijing-Olympics-Ethnic-children-exposed-as-fakes-in-opening-ceremony.html |title=Beijing Olympics: 'Ethnic' children exposed as fakes in opening ceremony | publisher=Daily Telegraph | date=2008-08-15 | accessdate=2008-08-21] [cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/0816/1218836130282.html?via=mr |title=Minority ethnic groups used in Games' opening were fake | publisher=Irish Times | date=2008-08-16 | accessdate=2008-08-21]

Reception

Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, described the ceremony as "spectacular" and an "unforgettable and moving ceremony that celebrated the imagination, originality and energy of the Beijing Games." He hailed the Beijing National Stadium as "one of the world's new wonders" and a "fitting setting for an amazing Opening Ceremony." [http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/media_centre/press_release_uk.asp?id=2703] Hein Verbruggen, IOC Member and Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, called the ceremony "a night to remember", "a breathtaking culmination of seven years of planning and preparation" and "an unprecedented and grand success" that exceeded all his expectations. [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/official/ioc/n214520633.shtml Verbruggen: Opening Ceremony a grand success] ]

The AFP called it "a spectacular opening ceremony." [cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jsyEOUQ7dS3m23i8C_qs9vyJhphA|title=Beijing's Games kick off with spectacular opening ceremony|publisher="AFP"|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-09] The BBC and "The Times" concurred by calling it a dazzling and spectacular show in Beijing. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/7547074.stm|title=Games begin with spectacular show|publisher=BBC|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-09] [cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4487981.ece|title=Olympic Opening Ceremony spectacular sets the bar high for London 2012|publisher="Times Online"|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-09] The Associated Press praised the show as spectacular with an extravaganza of pageantry and "interlude of fervor and magic" as well as being "spellbinding" and noted the show steered clear of modern politics. [cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLdmwILRnlcV8Gi-tJ_6Pjn3E5WgD92EAP1O4|title=China opens its long-sought Olympics spectacularly|publisher=Associated Press|date=2008-08-08] The "USA Today" described it as an exhilarating display of China's thousands of years of traditions of art and culture [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/2008-08-08-opening-ceremony_N.htm|title=China opens Olympics with fireworks, pageantry|publisher="USA Today"|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-09] , and the "Art Daily" stated it was a celebration of China's ancient history, along with sumptuous costumes from different imperial dynasties. [cite web|url=http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=25505|title=Chinese Director Zhang Yimou Presents Dazzling Opening Ceremony at The Olympic Games|publisher="Art Daily"|date=2008-08-08|accessdate=2008-08-09] The Spanish media were impressed by the opening ceremony,cite web|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/224511,spanish-media-impressed-by-olympic-opening-ceremony.html|title=Spanish media impressed by Olympic opening ceremony|publisher="Earth Times"|date=2008-08-08|accessdate-2008-08-09] with Antena 3 describing the ceremony as "an astonishing effort," while Cuatro called it "awesome and impressive." Cadena COPE said it was "the most dramatic Olympic opening ceremony ever." Germany's Deutsche Welle also praised it as a spectacular and a firecracker of a show, and a trip through China's rich history. [cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3548539,00.html|title=China opens its long-sought Olympics spectacularly|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=2008-08-08]

While praise for the opening ceremony was widespread amongst the world's media, [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ibNAUAq-kZNOy3LmO9HAI2cN-smg] the Singaporean newspaper "The Straits Times" described some reactions as "cynical" and "hostile". [http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/World/Story/STIStory_266513.html] "The Globe and Mail" had a column with title "The iron hand behind the magic show", [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080808.wolympics-blatchford09/BNStory/Front] some questioned the "heavy military theme". [http://in.reuters.com/article/worldOfSport/idINIndia-34908220080809?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldOfSport] "Asia Times", although praising the show as "stunning opening ceremony...with its panoply of color, painstaking choreography and sweeping portrait of Chinese culture and history" referred to the games as one devoid of "fun" in its article headlined "Awe (but no laughter) in Beijing". [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JH12Ad01.html]

Estimates of the global television audience varied: "around one billion" (Reuters);cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSPEK15134720080811 |title=Beijing opening night lures 15 percent of world |last=Goldsmith |first=Belinda |date=2008-08-11|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-08-11] "experts estimated ... more than two billion" (Wall Street Journal); [cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121819051298123857.html|title=Opening Ceremonies Aim To Illustrate Rise to Global Power|last=Dean|first=Jason|coauthors=Mei Fong|date=2008-08-09|work=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-08-11] "2.3 billion" (MindShare); [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/aug/08/olympicsandthemedia.chinathemedia|title=Beijing Olympics: UK firm behind TV titles for China state broadcaster|last=Sweney|first=Mark|date=2008-08-08|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-11] "Billions...probably the largest live television audience in history" (Bloomberg); [cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aewEiMi7BZ0Y|title=China's Hu Opens Beijing Games to Global Audience of Billions |last=Baynes|first=Dan |date=2008-08-08|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-08-11] "3 billion" (Sky News); [cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Beijing-Olympics-Opening-Ceremony-Faked-Firework-Footprints-Added-For-TV/Article/200808215075291?lpos=World%2BNews_6&lid=ARTICLE_15075291_Beijing%2BOlympics%2BOpening%2BCeremony%2BFaked%253A%2BFirework%2BFootprints%2BAdded%2BFor%2BTV|title=Parts of the spectacular Beijing Olympics opening ceremony were faked, it has emerged.|last=Stone|first=Mark |date=2008-08-11|work=Sky News|publisher=sky.com|accessdate=2008-08-11] "nearly 4 billion" (Xinhua); [cite news|url=http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/headlines/n214519815.shtml|title=Beijing Olympics opening ceremony hailed all over world|date=2008-08-09|work=Xinhua|accessdate=2008-08-11] "estimated 4 billion" (McClatchy). [cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/449/story/739575.html |title=Let the fireworks begin: China's Opening Ceremony dazzles 91,000 in hazy Bird's Nest] |last=Kaufman|first=Michelle |authorlink=Michelle Kaufman |date=2008-08-11|work=Kansas City Star|publisher=McClatchy|accessdate=2008-08-11] This included an estimated 842 million viewers in China, with polls ranging from 63 and 69 percent of the Chinese viewing population, exceeding that of the 51-58 percent who watch the CCTV annual Chinese New Year gala.

The BBC reported five million viewers in the United Kingdom, the Seven Network had 7.8 million viewers in Australia, "The Hollywood Reporter" said 4.4 million in France watched the ceremony, the ARD estimated 7.72 million viewers in Germany, while in Italy, RAI had 5.5 million viewers. In the United States, the NBC network delayed its telecast by 12 hours for evening primetime viewing, though Americans in markets bordering Canada could watch it on CBC Television, and others watched clips of it earlier on YouTube and other online video websites. [cite news | title=Tape Delay by NBC Faces End Run by Online Fans | publisher=New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/09/sports/olympics/09nbc.html?ref=business | date=2008-08-08 | accessdate=2008-08-10] Still, it managed to capture 69.9 million viewers [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93522548] . The ceremony, therefore, became the most watched Opening ever held in a non-U.S. city by American audience.cite web|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gXjnOdO6kTH96jQ5K6CmMnm_isvAD92F25L80|title=Opening night is a big TV draw for NBC|publisher=Associated Press|date=2008-08-09|accessdate=2008-08-09] It is the biggest television event in the U.S. in 2008 since the Super Bowl and it also surpassed the rating for the 2008 Academy Awards ceremony and the finale of the "American Idol". NBC dedicated their broadcast of the opening ceremony to the memory of Jim McKay, longtime Olympics commentator for ABC, who died two months earlier, as per a message at the end of the broadcast.

ee also

* 2008 Summer Olympics national flag bearers
* Four Great Inventions of ancient China
* 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony

References

External links

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* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2524984/Beijing-Olympics-How-the-opening-ceremony-unfolded.html Sequence of events]
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