08.25.08
Closing Ceremonies – Observations and Knee-Jerk Reactions
Like several billion other people in the world, I watched the Olympic Closing Ceremonies last night. Overall, I was extremely impressed by the show, just as I have been with all of the events of the past 16 days. Many of my notions about China and its dearth of creativity were seriously challenged by what I experienced on CCTV last night. That aside, here are some observations and knee-jerk reactions I scribbled down while watching the festivities.
Jacques Rogge’s speech could have been written by a class of fifth graders…”Through these Games, the world learned more about China, and China learned more about the world.”…Wow, that’s deep.
Would it ki11 Hu Jlntao to crack a smile…just once?
Jiang Zemln looks old.
Were those dancers really wearing bike helmets? And where can I get one of those bikes with the rotating neon light wheels? That would actually be quite practical for riding around Beijing at night.
Did anybody else notice Liu Qi almost began a sentence with 同志们 (comrades) before catching himself mid-breath and saying 朋友们 (friends)?
Which tent was Jackie Chan volunteering at? I could have used him when I was trying to find an emergency helicopter equipped with parachutes, jump out, land in a moving taxi on 4th Ring Road, and roll out of it while passing the Wukesong exit en route to the baseball stadium. Instead, I just had to take the subway.
All of the flash photography is probably unnecessary at night with the entire Bird’s Nest all lit up (unless of course everybody is taking snapshots of their friends)…but it sure did make the stadium look cool.
Is it just me or does London seem like a pretty blah place to have the next Olympics?
Did David Beckham really need to travel halfway across the globe to kick a soccer ball into a crowd of dancers?
As much of a Led Zeppelin fan as I am, “Whole Lotta Love” seemed a little out of place, but at least they weren’t singing “London, London, I love London.”
That’s all I got for now.
Yueting
said,
August 25, 2008 at 11:21 am
Come on, you know David Beckham come all the way to hook up with chicks.
Just kidding.
One thing though, NBC doesn’t always broadcast Olympic on live. And it’s even impossible to watch a non-American game on NBC. What’s worse, any IP locates in America was not allowed to watch it on line. (I don’t know other places, but it is the case here)
So…Lucky Ben!
Dan
said,
August 25, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I’m of the opinion that “Whole Lotta Love” was a good choice…felt sort of “real” compared to the elaborate choreography and obvious staging of everything else.
Other thoughts from me on the closing ceremonies:
1. Rain (the Korean guy, not the weather pattern) – what was he doing there? I mean, certainly he’s popular in China, but really, what was the point, aside from being a savvy career move? Was he supposed to be representing Wangjing, Beijing’s little Korea?
2. “Wo ai Beijing” – I do love Beijing, but that wasn’t much of a song.
Alec
said,
August 25, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Uh, London boring? London is actually an international city, probably one of the two or three most cosmopolitan and exciting conurbations on Earth.
Shanz
said,
August 25, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Noticed the Liu Qi stumble… but I think Chinese speaking foreigners were the only ones who did.
I remember thinking when the bus came out “this is going to look naff on TV”. TV forces you to look at “one thing” — but the whole London show (and indeed many parts of the Closing Ceremony itself) needed a “stadium eye view” with the ability to flick quickly from one center of action to the next, but retaining the ability to take in the “whole thing” with just a momentary refocus.
The whole bus sequence really worked in the stadium.
And it _is_ pretty much just you I think. London’s a great city, and will no doubt redefine how the Olympics should work (ie. “smaller” and “smarter” alongside faster higher stronger)
Bigger just ain’t better — although at least 1 billion of the “several billions” you refer to would instantly disagree with that assessment.
Benjamin Ross
said,
August 25, 2008 at 7:04 pm
@Alec and Shanz
I probably should have clarified this better, but I wasn’t implying that London was boring nor a bad city for the Olympics. Rather, that the IOC’s choice of London as an Olympic city is rather blah, mainly because they’ve already had the Olympics there twice already. Additionally, as of 2012, five of the past ten Olympiads will have been held in countries which were once part of the British Empire. I have always been of the persuasion that the Olympics is a chance to bring the entire world together, involving as many different (and diverse) countries as possible.
That being said, I also Chicago for 2016 would be a pretty lame choice as well. Although out of my own self-interest, I do hope Chicago gets the bid, allowing one country to host the Olympics 3 times in the span of 32 years is just a little bit excessive to say the least. Awarding the games to Rio de Jeneiro would be much more in the spirit of the Olympics if you ask me.
ZhongTang
said,
August 25, 2008 at 7:42 pm
The pressure will mostly be on Vancouver 2010 for the Winter Olympics. Obviously, the opening ceremonies will be more down to earth (and less expensive).
Matt Schiavenza
said,
August 26, 2008 at 12:14 am
As for a boring Olympic host, I think Atlanta ranks No. 1 on the list. Isn’t it a bit odd that the Olympics have been held in Atlanta and St. Louis but never New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, or New Orleans?
London will be fine, but I’m with Ben- I’d like to see Rio get the ‘16 games. And it’d be nice to see Africa get them one day as well, though I hear they’re having enough trouble organizing the 2010 World Cup. India would be a logical spot as well, but their inexplicably poor performance time after time might preclude that form happening anytime soon.
Alan
said,
August 26, 2008 at 1:32 am
Matt, I think most Atlantans would agree with your assessment. The Atlanta Olympic organizers could have done a better job if it weren’t because of then corrupt mayor Bill Campbell. Campbell is doing his time at a Federal penitentiary in Florida right now on conviction of tax frauds. Too bad that Fed didn’t have enough evidence to nail him for corruptions. I remember my disappointment after watching the 96 Olympic opening ceremony in Atlanta. A computer glitch in the middle of the parade of nations slowed down the process for 20 minutes, as if there was an intermission between the parade of nations. ACOG for some reason decided to hire bus drivers from Alabama to drive the athlete buses. The only problem was that Atlanta has over 100 street names bearing the word Peachtree and those out-of-towners just didn’t have enough time to familiarize themselves with those dubious street names. Many athletes were bused to the wrong venues. Then we also had the bombing by a nutcase who was later able to evade the Fed for years. Considered “Atlanta – Not Bad for Georgia”, we did alright.
Maple
said,
August 26, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Hey, Ben,
for me , the ending is quite boring,nothing surprised.
but it cost a lot of money,,, asking David Beckham to come out for only 8minutes cost a lot. i dont think it is necessary.
by the way, in the endings, have you seen there is one scene that Jesson from American WNBA just came out and gave Yaoming a big hug ?
it was a little bit surprising and also moving, although Yaoming was already married.
Jesson would be very sad on her way back, heart breaking , i think.
She used to love Yaoming very much, but got no chances
chriswaugh_bj
said,
August 26, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Didn’t notice Liu Qi’s little stumble, but then again I was too busy trying to pick which points the Western press would cry “Fake!” on.
“Whole Lotta Love” was the best part of London’s 8 minutes by a long shot, but I’m prepared to accept it was better live. I personally would’ve preferred the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” or “Anarchy in the UK”, but they’re only appropriate in my mind, and Led Zep were, are and always will be a million times more the musicians than the Sex Pistols.
But Beckham kicking a ball? That’s the best they could come up with? Geez, even morris dancers would’ve been better than that. Yeah, morris dancers tricked out in Zhang Yimou’s psychadelic neon-lit costumes flying Li Ning-style around the rim of the Bird’s Nest as Jimmy Page broke into “Stairway to Heaven” and a giant Monty Python foot swooped down to kick Beckham and his football out of the stadium and over the Water Cube. That would’ve done the trick.
Jessica Lu
said,
August 27, 2008 at 6:59 am
Do you know what many Chinese are saying about the closing ceremony?
They generally agree it’s an upgraded and outrageously expensive version of a CCTV Spring Festival Gala, which means they’re so fed of these “synchronized” pageantry and those beautiful yet wooden folksong singers since they’ve watched similar stuff all their life. While the older Chinese, like my 50 something parents, still love the grandeur of “big scenes” presented by the ceremonies, the younger generation expect more individuality and artistic creativity. I’m gravely worried the lack of musical talent in China throughout these 16 days. The organizers seemed unable to provide a single elegant piece of “original” music for this game.
I love London’s 8 minutes for its casual and simple representation of London’s everyday lifestyle. Many friends of mine particularly adore the laid-back look of Boris Johnson, compared to the stodgy formality of the C-P leaders.
Jet So
said,
August 27, 2008 at 11:17 am
Talent is there but regrettably buried beneath lip-syncing schemes and that “thin-face” perfection mentality.