Olympics Opening Ceremony Was Transcendent TV -- Here's An Annotated Scrapbook
The opening ceremony of the XIX Summer Olympics was a transcendent TV event. Every time you think the Chinese couldn't top themselves, they did.
"A picture is worth a thousand words," usually cited as an ancient Chinese proverb, actually isn't ancient or Chinese at all. But with the Olympics opening ceremony handled so stunningly by China, only an annotated photo album does the evening, or the NBC telecast, justice. So here goes...
The LED scroll was an early stunner -- rolling out like a sheet of papyrus, then presenting a giant canvas on which dancers used themselves as human paintbrushes. When the drawing was completed -- a long-revered harmonic image of mountains and water -- it flew, seemingly by magic, to be "hung" in midair.
Other early knockouts: The drummers whose drum heads were illuminated with white light, making their surfaces first random, then choreographed, in a countdown to the opening ceremonies. Amazing. Then using humans to bring to life giant, undulating printing blocks, rising and falling in patterns spelling out Chinese characters, such as the one above, which means "Harmony."
Overall, the meticulous use of synchronized choreography was amazing. If the scale didn't knock you out, the visual artistry did. There was nothing fancy about thousands of people doing tai chi at the same time, except for the precision with which they executed the actions and patterns of their choreographed routines. And when the dancers, in their illuminated suits, became a giant dove, that was only the beginning...
Then they climbed onto one another and became the Bird's Nest, approximating the very stadium in which they were performing. In long shot, as a young girl was flown overhead while flying a kite, it was remarkable. Close-up, it was jaw-dropping.
The parade of nations was glorious, and there were no boos, no protests, to detract from the rare and inspirational display of mutual respect. I was fascinated by the costumes, the faces, the smiles, the pride. Even by the surprises, such as the hideous outfits worn by the Hungarian women and the proudly modern beauty of the flag-carrier from the often oppressive-to-women United Arab Emirates.
Somewhere in there, President George W. Bush got so bored, waiting for the U.S.'s turn, that a TV camera's zoom lens caught a grainy photo of him looking distractedly at his watch. But finally, the United States got to parade -- and we, too, received a very warm welcome from the crowd inside the stadium.
Then, after basketball star Yao Ming carried his flag for China, the ceremony topped itself with the best that it was saving for last. A relay of torch bearers ended with one Chinese athlete standing at the center of the stadium, then suddenly (hoisted by wires unnoticed at the time) took flight, beginning a full circuit around the inner ring of the open upper stadium.
He was running on air around the Bird's Nest. And after his circuit, he lit what looked like a huge fuse, which raced towards and illuminated the Olympics torch. Mission accomplished.
And for China, wanting to put its best foot forward, mission very, very accomplished.