Beijing Olympics Begin With Lavish Opening Ceremony
8/9/2008 12:15 AM ET
RTT news
Seven years, billions of dollars and thousands of hours of training - not to mention hundreds of protests, complaints about air quality and official calls from the U.S. government for China to improve its human rights record - and the Olympic Games finally kicked off in Beijing on Friday.
As had been promised since the world's most populace country was first named as host nation, the opening ceremony was visually stunning, with China opening its doors to the world in a celebration of its history, people, and culture.
The ceremony, directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, stressed unity and showcased the country's history during the four-hour event in its Bird's Nest stadium.
Before a crowd of 91,000, the performers showcased the accomplishments of the Chinese people, including exploration, silk, art, and dance. The presentations were decidedly a-political, as organizers focused on culture rather than nationalism.
The traditional parade of athletes, where each country's delegation takes its walk through the stadium, was concluded by China. The countries proceeded in order by the Chinese alphabet, with the host nation entering last.
The Olympic flame was lit by gymnast Li Ning, who took home a trio of gold medals for China in 1984. With Ning airborne, suspended with wires, the torch ended a protest-marked, four-month journey around the globe by lighting the gigantic Olympic cauldron. The light will now burn for the remainder of the games.
The opening ceremony had an auspicious date - 08.08.08. The number 8 is looked at as a special, lucky number in China. Due in part to the superstition, 16,000 Chinese applied for marriage licenses on August 8, 2008 - more than twice the previous record for a single-day marriage license.
In China, cell phone numbers with the number 8 in them are more expensive, and it is common to see the number 8 on Chinese license plates.
The choice of China as the host nation for the Olympic games has been a controversial one, due to the country's human rights record, oppressive government and policies toward such minority interests as those in Tibet.
In what has often been referred to as China's coming-out party after years of growing economic and diplomatic power, the Olympics will place the country under close scrutiny.
In the days leading up to the ceremony, U.S. President George W. Bush expressed his concerns over human rights abuses in China, sparking a response from the Chinese government. On the President's recent tour in Asia, he urged China to respect human rights, a sensitive issue in the days leading up the opening ceremony.
"America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates, and religious activists," Bush said. "We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly, and labor rights not to antagonize China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential."
Bush placed his hope for the future in the hands of Chinese youth. He looked to the next generation in China to push for personal freedom, citing economic freedom as a precursor to other freedoms.
"Young people who grow up with the freedom to trade goods will ultimately demand the freedom to trade ideas, especially on an unrestricted Internet," he said. "Change in China will arrive on its own terms and in keeping with its own history and traditions. Yet change will arrive."
China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang responded to Bush's statements, saying that China is dedicated to "maintaining and promoting basic rights and freedom of its citizens," and accused Bush of meddling.
"We firmly oppose any statements or deeds which use human rights, religion and other issues to interfere with the internal affairs of other countries," Qin Gang said.
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