Describing the Beijing Olympics opening, one business said to
me it is 搄aw dropping� and another emailed to say 揟he opening
ceremony can only be described in one word: Awesome.�
Against the flow of air passenger traffic I flew back from China
two days before the opening in order to host the 揕unch with Olympics�
event in Liverpool Chinatown, an simultaneous event timed with
the 08:08 pm (Beijing time) on 8th August 08 when the biggest
party on earth was started in China. The networking and celebration
was attended by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, the Chinese Consul
General and the Chief Executive of the NWDA.
I spent two weeks in China � sampling the feverous build-up in
the countdown to Beijing Olympics. The enthusiasm shown to the
games by whomever I talked to in China, from Mayors of cities
to taxi drivers, is infectious even though I was thousands of
miles away from Beijing.
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Watching
the opening event live on BBC One with some 50 business and civic
leaders was itself an unforgettable experience. Naturally like
the 4 billion estimated global audience, we were overwhelmed by
the spectacular celebration at the Birdnest and Beijing. It is
one of the greatest openings and Beijing is on course to deliver
what China promised � the best Olympics for the world.
I think first and utmost Beijing Olympics is a great sporting
party organised by China, not just for the 1.3 billion in China
but for the world. So let抯 join the party and be part of the
celebration. Who in the UK would not share the joy seeing Nicole
Cooke passed the finishing line on her bicycle?
While Zhang Yimou, the well-known film conductor of the House
of Flying Dagger, Raise the Red Lantern, and many others, did
a great job in conducting the colourful, vociferous, well drilled
beautiful opening, it was that his organisation of the 5000 years
of Chinese civilisation into the choreography to reflect the Olympics
sprit impressed most.
There are so much that can be picked up: the 147 x 27 meter long
LED Chinese 搒croll� that was the changing platform of the whole
ceremony, the four acclaimed Chinese ancient inventions of gun
powder (firework), paper (the giant scroll), printing (waves of
character boxes), and the compass; the milestone in the world
trade � silkroad and the Zheng He fleets of clippers around the
world adventure; the 32 symbolic Chinese pillars (Huabiao) that
is probably the oldest Chinese architecture feature in history;
the 3000 disciples of Confucius; the 2008 Taiji performers; the
lighting of the giant touch etc� but three things typified the
spirit of this opening which touched me: the drummers, the giant
character, and the children.
One couldn抰 be but overwhelmed by the 2008 young drummers whose
loud roars filled the 91,000 birdnest stadium and our giant 50�
TV screen was filled with energy during the countdown and the
start. The sound of drums and the roar of the drummers made you
feel the power, the speed, and the unstoppable momentum, just
like the breakneck speed of China抯 economic growth and much in
line with Olympic aims of being stronger, higher and faster.
The transformation of the Chinese character meaning peace and
harmony, during the choreography of the Chinese 憄rinting� invention
captured the 憄eaceful competition� of the Olympic spirit through
such beautiful expression of Chinese civilisation and culture
and demonstrated the desire for 慼armony�, the philosophical height
of Chinese culture and the present day doctrine of its new effort
in progressing from the economic prosperity into a fairer and
harmonious society. It is a Chinese expression for the Olympic
spirit of peace.
From the little heroic boy, who survived the recent Sichuan earthquake
to lead the Chinese athletes with the Chinese flag holder Yao
Min to the sweet face of little girl (the guest pianist); from
the group of typical school children painting the scroll to the
2008 smiling children faces, Chinese children led and dominated
the whole opening proceeding � and rightly so - it put the hope
and future for China and for the world at the heart of the Olympics.
Zhang Yimou said the opening can be summarised using three different
words - passion, romance and dream and that it succeeded in telling
a beautiful Chinese story in a way understood by the world. I
feel the three words � energy, harmony and future has captured
the whole Chinese story of the opening ceremony and captured the
spirit of Olympics.
I see a prosperous China that is energetic to continue its economic
integration with the global economy; I feel the Chinese are ready
to share its culture and civilisation for a harmonic and peaceful
world; I witnessed a confident China that is focusing on the next
generation � the future. If the accession of China into the World
Trade Organisation in 2001 was the milestone for China to truly
integrate into the global economy then the Beijing Olympics is
another milestone for China to showcase its culture inside to
the world and to play an integral part in the modern world civilisation.
One World, One Dream.
What will happen to China after the Olympics? Is the versatile
Shanghai stock market a sign of things to come? Will the Chinese
economy weather the credit crunch better than the economics in
the west? Will new investment in China by UK firm continue to
be rewarded with the returns we have seen? What Chinese investment
may come to UK and Liverpool?
Hay, the party is not over yet, enjoy the Olympics and watch
this space after the closing ceremony on 24 August!
Kegang Wu
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