Seriously, I can't even remember previous Opening Ceremonies when compared to this one.
The 2008 Summer Olympics, hosted by the city of Beijing in China, started off with a spectacular opening ceremony. Directd by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the ceremony was a stunning piece of work, unlike anything I've ever seen at the Olympics before (my memory goes up to 1998, with the Winter Olympics in Nagano).
The truly amazing part came before the always-awesome Parade of Nations. The segment was sort of a "history lesson" on Chinese culture, taking us through both the ancient and modern times. What was impressive was how the most miniscule detail was paid attention to. When the 2008 performers were playing those drums that lit up, it was awe-inspiring to see how precise they all were. Another visual wonder were those boxes that lifted up and down, whether to show water or the Great Wall of China. It was amazing to see at the end that the boxes were being moved by people, not machines. It boggles the mind to consider how much pratice all of that took in order for everyone to be synchronized the way they were.
The Chinese people's appreciation to such detail, precision, and perfection is definitely something to be admired. That dedication helped create one of the most awe-inspiring sights I have ever witnessed. The mix of past and present, the recurring theme of peace and openness, it all came together in a ceremony that will go down in Olympic history as one of the best.
An NBC commentator described this year's Olympics, and the opening ceremony in particular, as China's "coming out" party. With one like this, China has definitely succeeded.
To watch the full ceremony, click here
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