By chance did you see the opening ceremonies? Amazing. If you did not, here is the NBC link (be warned though, you’re gonna have to jump through a few hoops and advertisements before the clip shows. It is, however, worth it.): http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0808_HD_OC_RC_CE005. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say on the subject: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympics_Opening_Ceremony. Zhang Yimou pulled off something that will be hard to duplicate. Something wonderful.
I’m not a big sports guy but I do enjoy a good epic. It’s this epic that attracts me most to the Olympics. For China this is big and that’s saying something. The opening ceremonies cost about 300 million dollars and about 150,000 performers to pull off. The drummers, the jaw dropping technology and pyrotechnics, the shear spectacle was simply astonishing. I pity London in 2012 – they are going to have a hard act to follow. China’s sleeping giant has awakened.
Beijing has rocketed up my list of places to see before I keel over and assume room temperature. The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, The Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square are all good reasons to visit the city; now add to this list the Beijing National Stadium (or “Bird’s Nest”) and you’ve got an unforgettable experience.
You know, I’ve put off hitting the lottery and applying for passports for far too long. I’m gonna get right on that.
Enjoy the Olympics!
2 comments:
AH I love watching the olympics-all of it! love seeing other countries so vicariously!prob enjoy so much cause it's not yrly.
You know, you just might be onto something there – with the whole every four years thing. If the Olympics were like Survivor it may have “Jumped the Shark” years ago.
Naaaah. Not the Olympics.
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