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| Beijing Opening Ceremony (Read 663 times) |
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 6:19 AM |
| Politics and controversy aside, the Opening Ceremony was the most amazing spectacle I've seen in a very long time. Beautifully conceived; remarkable effects; flawless execution. Only China could have pulled it off, and they certainly did! |
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Lisa3.1 |
posted: 8/9/2008 at 6:54 AM
modified: 8/9/2008 at 6:56 AM |
| Quote from Berner on 8/9/2008 at 6:19 AM: Politics and controversy aside, the Opening Ceremony was the most amazing spectacle I've seen in a very long time. Beautifully conceived; remarkable effects; flawless execution. Only China could have pulled it off, and they certainly did!
Yes, we saw it too. It was Spectacular.
but it doesn't surprise us as we seen numerous times in years past. |
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zzz |
posted: 8/9/2008 at 10:50 AM
modified: 8/9/2008 at 10:51 AM |
I was amazed!! For some reason I have never actually watched the entire opening ceremonies including the lighting of the cauldron or whatever it's called. It was really great how they worked that out. Just fabulous!!
That little boy with Yao Ming was adorable and I cried when they told the story about him saving his classmates because he was the hall monitor and that's what his job is.
Incredible all around. |
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 11:24 AM |
It's hard to pick out one single thing but, that thing they did with all the boxes blew me away. When they were doing the waves & the ripples on the pond I was thinking "they must be using a bunch of hydraulics hooked up to a computer." When they finished the routine & the tops of the boxes opened revealing the people inside I was astonished. How do you coordinate that many people to move together like that? They couldn't even see each other.
I guess the guy who lit the torch isn't afraid of heights either.
The Chinese sure know how to throw a party. |
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 1:35 PM |
I also can't recall ever watching the ceremonies from start to finish...but WOW! Everything was so beautiful. That torch is gorgeous...and the lights, and fireworks and massive LED screen. I also LOVED that area where all the athletes walked across the colored ink or chalk and left the footprints on the white canvas. I'm sure that will be hung somewhere in an art museum or Olympics building. Great interactive art.
Favorite team costumes go to the Swedish women...traditional Mandarin style tops, but in Swedish blue and gold. Very cool. |
Kirsten
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.: 2008 Goals :.
• Run 1500 miles
• October 5 - 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k
• 1st trail race |
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Guy running in pink |
posted: 8/9/2008 at 3:55 PM |
Well, I watched Flight of the Conchords instead, but I am extremely interested in this:
Only China could have pulled it off
Er... (timidly)... why? |
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 5:27 PM
modified: 8/9/2008 at 5:30 PM |
| Quote from srlopez on 8/9/2008 at 3:55 PM: Er... (timidly)... why?
I said that because my sense is that no Western country could get away with spending that much money and devoting that many resources to a single event without drawing huge political backlash. Although there are (of course) no official figures from the Chinese government, most estimates put the cost of the Opening Ceremony at around $100 million. That’s about $476,000 per minute and almost $8,000 per second (and more than twice the cost of the 2004 Athens opening ceremony). |
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 6:53 PM |
I found the openings stunning as well. The drumming ... wow 
I had wanted to flip back and forth between the Steeler-Eagles, but couldn't pull myself away for more than a couple few seconds. The scroll, the dancers painting the mountain scene, the egg/globe thing, the "ink pad" Wow. Just wow. Those "cheerleaders" on the edge while the parade of nations went on must have been exhuasted. Glad I have hi-def. |
Boston 2008
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posted: 8/9/2008 at 7:11 PM |
| Quote from Berner on 8/9/2008 at 5:27 PM: I said that because my sense is that no Western country could get away with spending that much money and devoting that many resources to a single event without drawing huge political backlash. Although there are (of course) no official figures from the Chinese government, most estimates put the cost of the Opening Ceremony at around $100 million. That’s about $476,000 per minute and almost $8,000 per second (and more than twice the cost of the 2004 Athens opening ceremony).
I heard them say that the director's budget for the entire opening ceremonies was more like 300 million.
The box part really was incredible. I told my wife the same thing...they must be using hydraulics and a computer to get those kinds of effects. I couldn't believe it when the guys popped out. |
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The young Mama Bear! |
posted: 8/10/2008 at 1:25 AM
modified: 8/10/2008 at 1:27 AM |
| After seeing many opening ceremonies, I'm just glad to have seen my "home" country host the Olympics in my lifetime. Atlanta was amazing, but this takes the cake. Ish was bananas. |
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posted: 8/10/2008 at 1:18 PM |
The commentators said that there were 15,000 chinese performers, none of whom repeated during any part of the ceremony.
Only in China could they get 15,000 people together like that for all the rehearsal that they must have done. |
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posted: 8/10/2008 at 7:30 PM |
| Absolutly best opening ceremonies......EVER. Unbelievable. |
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posted: 8/10/2008 at 7:38 PM |
| I really liked the footstep fireworks. Those were very nifty. |
| PB: 36:44 2008 STWM 5k ... now to bring that lower... |
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posted: 8/11/2008 at 4:17 AM |
| Quote from greenrunning on 8/9/2008 at 7:11 PM: The box part really was incredible. I told my wife the same thing...they must be using hydraulics and a computer to get those kinds of effects. I couldn't believe it when the guys popped out.
They rehearsed 8 hours a day for 4 months. Now that's teamwork.
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Castaic Sprint Triathlon 8/9/08
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posted: 8/11/2008 at 7:55 AM |
| I saw part of it on a really terrible, fuzzy TV. Can't wait to get home and watch on the big HD screen (thank you TiVo) |
| Just 'cause you can, doesn't mean you should
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