Source: Xinhua
08-07-2008 17:11
Special Report: 2008 Beijing Olympic GamesSpecial Report: Olympic Opening Ceremony
By Sportswriter Chen Jian
BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Who will light the cauldron at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony on Friday night?
Liu Xiang? Xu Haifeng? Li Ning? He Zhenliang? Yao Ming?
One big name after another was mentioned and then excluded as a heated discussion was spreading in the office of U.S. publication Sports Illustrated at the Main Press Center.
"I still think Yao Ming has a fat chance to light the flame," said Craig Neff, assistant managing editor of the iconic weekly magazine.
The giant Houston Rockets center could have missed the glory of lighting the flame at the opening as he was more than satisfied to carry the Olympic torch in Beijing on Wednesday.
Tradition usually goes that whoever has carried the torch before the opening will not be chosen as the one to light the cauldron.
Claiming he "never had the wild wish" to light the cauldron in the National Stadium, the Shanghai native has undoubtedly presented a positive image of China's new generation to the rest of the world in recent years.
Confidence, self-discipline, a sense of humor and teamwork have featured prominently in Yao's NBA career in North America, who has won the hearts of millions of sports fans worldwide.
Such an image is exactly what China wants to achieve through the Olympiad. The Games have attracted tens of thousands of critical journalists to cover this vast country.
In the meantime, China is eager to exhibit its splendid culture to the outside world to those suspicious of China's rise as it could pose great challenges to the current world order.
The opening ceremony could be the best occasion for China to clear itself of any suspicion.
"I'm focusing on how China will showcase itself at the opening ceremony," said Jonathan Paterson, a BBC News assignment editor.
The ceremony must be very exciting, very colorful, he added. "What I want to know is whether the public display could live up to the expectations."
Reuters photographer Gary Hershorn, who has covered numerous Olympic opening ceremonies in the last 25 years, watched two rehearsals for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
"The scale of production really stunned me. There are so many performers in each segment," exclaimed the seasoned snapper.
However, it is "hard to understand the Chinese factors featuring in those segments without programs" which won't be available till before the ceremony, said Hershorn while looking through the pictures he took at the rehearsals on his camera.
The opening ceremony is directed by Zhang Yimou, the renowned Chinese film director who has gained global fame for his masterpieces characterized by magnificent scenes, vibrant colors and typical China look.
According to Hershorn, the withdrawal of U.S. film director Steven Spielberg as an artistic advisor to the ceremony was not detrimental. Nonetheless, it could "make the ceremony less Hollywood, and exhibit more true Chinese culture."
In addition to Chinese culture, the convergence of different cultures will also be a highlight of the opening ceremony on Aug. 8. The best example is the theme song to be presented by famed Chinese singer Liu Huan and British diva Sarah Brightman for some 5 billion viewers worldwide.
"She is great. A perfect person to sing the theme song," Hershorn said. "She is very famous in Britain, although she is not my taste."
"It would be the finest part of artistic history," concluded Francisco Gallego, a sports editor with the EFE Agency.
Brightman, who performed "Amigos Para Siempre" at the closing ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in a duet with Spaniard Jose Carreras, gained world acclaim for her unique style blending classical vocals and pop-inspired instrumentation and arrangements.
The duet between the Brit and Liu represents the determination of China to welcome the world with its open arms during the Games.
What about after the Games? Yoshio Sato, deputy managing editor with the Asahi Shimbun, expressed his concerns.
"China has been more transparent recently," said the Japanese. "I am wondering whether this trend will be consistent after the Olympic Games."
Likening the China of present day to 1964 Japan when the 18th Olympic Games was held in the emerging economy, Sato hoped the opening ceremony could send a clear message of peaceful rising to the world in the 21st century.
Editor:Wu Yan
