The 29th Olympic Games Get Underway
While it is early in the day here in the US it is late night in Beijing, China where the 29th Olympic Games have already gotten underway — at least, ceremonially. The Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics is already in full swing and all the pomp and circumstance that comes along with these events is currently unfolding (and by the looks of some of the photos coming out of Beijing, with an elaborate array of colorful majesty). NBC will be broadcasting the Opening Ceremonies tonight beginning at 7:30PM ET/PT but here are a few pics to whet your appetite in the meantime:
China opened the 29th Olympic Games on Friday with stunning fireworks as the Asian nation kicked off the biggest and most scrutinized Games in history. Fireworks shot off across the Chinese capital as thousands of drummers, acrobats, martial artists and dancers performed under a light display at the National Stadium, drawing applause from the estimated 90,000 in attendance. Children representing each of the 56 ethnic groups in China marched out into the stadium, also called the “Bird’s Nest” because of its unique appearance. The ceremony was an artistic mix of performance and light that was depicting China’s 5,000 years of history. It was a stunning beginning from the nation of 1.3 billion people. Some media observers have said they believe the Opening Ceremony would be the single most watched television event in history. Billions of dollars in the making, the 2008 Summer Games have been seen as carrying the ambitions of a nation seeking its place as a global superpower … The Olympic torch relay, the focus of protests during parts of its international leg earlier this year, was expected to conclude at 11:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET) when it enters Beijing’s National Stadium to light the Olympic cauldron … it’s just what China wanted — an opening ceremony with an impressive guest list. U.S. President George W. Bush is among more than 100 heads of state, heads of government and sovereigns expected to attend, the International Olympic Committee said. The leaders represent countries including Japan, Russia, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
There is no doubt, China is going to pull out all of the stops for these Olympic games and I’m very much looking forward to watching the majestic ceremonies when they air later on tonight. There has been much controversy surrounding these games … with many folks voicing their displeasure with various human rights and environmental problems with China. It feels like such a stain on the Olympic Games that this sort of controversy is even attached to such a worldwide event that is meant to foster goodwill and sportsmanship with all nations of the world. I for one am choosing to focus on the positive aspects of these Olympic Games, rooting for the US Team along the way (because dwelling on the negative aspects that are associated with a Communist State like China will only mar the goodwill that is supposed to be fostered by the Olympic Games). The International Olympic Committee awarded the Games to China and they are now underway. I choose to enjoy the positive aspects of the Olympic Games, which is the point overall. In the end, China will censor any criticism they choose to anyway. I just hope that by everyone playing nice with one another (at least, trying to anyways) more positivity can come from the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing.
Tags: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
RSS
Feedburner
August 8th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I can’t wait to watch this!!! YIPPPEEEE. I hope they show it again tonight!!! I love the olympics!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:00 am
yay, i love the olympics! although i am very much a champion for human rights, but lets face it, many world leaders who criticised the chinese government havent exactly got stellar human rights records themselves…
i think for a couple of weeks, everyone can put their differences aside and just acknowledge we are all human and we should all celebrate each others’ achievements and enjoy some good sport, irrespective of politics.
watching the ceremony now, and i think the organisers did an amazing job. truly wonderful to watch!
ps – GO AUSSIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Wow – those photos are beautifullllll – oh my goodness!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:13 am
In the run-up to the Olympics, the Chinese authorities have locked up, put under house arrest and forcibly removed individuals they believe may threaten the image of “stability” and “harmony” they want to present to the world.
“By continuing to persecute and punish those who speak out for human rights, the Chinese authorities have lost sight of the promises they made when they were granted the Games seven years ago,” said Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International.
“The Chinese authorities are tarnishing the legacy of the Games. They must release all imprisoned peaceful activists, allow foreign and national journalists to report freely and make further progress towards the elimination of the death penalty.”
Reports have just confirmed that foreign journalists working from the Olympics press centre in Beijing are unable to access amnesty.org, the Amnesty International website. In addition, The China Debate, a site recently launched by Amnesty International as a forum to discuss human rights has been blocked in China.
A number of other websites are also reported to have been blocked, including Taiwan newspaper Liberty Times and the Chinese versions of both Germany’s Deutsche Welle and the BBC.
This flies in the face of official promises to ensure “complete media freedom” for the Games. Internet control and censorship is increasing as the Olympics approach. Many other sites, including several reporting on HIV/AIDS issues in Beijing, have been targeted.
Despite new media regulations that were supposed to allow for freer reporting for foreign journalists, they continue to be prevented from covering “sensitive issues”, including talking to those who suffer human rights violations. The Foreign Correspondents Club of China (FCCC) documented approximately 180 incidents of reporting disruptions in 2007. This has now increased to 260.
Amnesty International also believes that local activists and journalists working on human rights issues in China are at particular risk of abuse during the Games. Chinese journalists operate in a climate of censorship, unable to report on issues deemed sensitive by the authorities, and many still languish in jail for reporting on such issues.
Housing rights activist Ye Guozhu continues to serve his four-year sentence for “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble” because of his opposition to the seizure and demolition of property to make way for new construction projects for next month’s Olympic Games.
Ye Guozhu’s prison sentence was due to expire on 26 July. Instead the Chinese authorities say, he will remain imprisoned until at least 1 October, after the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.
China is still the world’s top executioner. The Supreme People’s Court (SPC) initiated a review of the death penalty that is believed to have resulted in a significant drop in executions. A senior official said that in the first half of 2008 15 per cent of death sentences were rejected by the SPC.
However, the authorities continue to refuse to disclose the full number of those sentenced to death and executed — the total figure remains a state secret. Estimates put the number of those executed every year in the thousands. Around 68 offences – including non-violent crimes such as drug-related offences – are punishable by death in China.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Jacques Rogge, recently claimed the IOC’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ had led to several human rights reforms, including the new regulations for foreign media.
“We welcome the IOC’s recognition of its role on human rights, but given the current reality, we are surprised at their confidence that foreign media will be able to report freely and that there will be no internet censorship,” said Roseann Rife. “And they must speak out when the authorities violate the wider Olympic principles.”
“Additionally, world leaders who attend the Games need to raise their voice publicly for human rights in China and in support of individual Chinese human rights activists. A failure to do so will send the message that it is acceptable for a government to host the Olympic Games in an atmosphere of repression and persecution.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I sat and watched the entire ceremony, it was amazing! I really am looking forward to it being in London in 2012 :P I wonder whether we’ll put on an even better opening display.
I love the Olympics, and what it represents :)
August 8th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Probably 29th Summer Olympics. I know fa sho the Olympics as a whole is older than 29 years.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
so over the politics.. i wish ppl would give it a rest until the olympics are over! so sad how the focus of the olympics is all on politics when it should really be about sports… and i agree that ppl such as george bush shouldn’t be able to criticise others without taking a look at what they themselves are doing
August 8th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Wow, I watched the Olympics Opening Ceremony this morning..and I am totally and completely blown away..still.
People have been saying, and I believe, that this has probably been one of the best displays in history.
The effort, level of difficulty, creativity and time put into this performance was truly outstanding. Congrats Beijing!
And as for the human rights issue…
In one of the speeches this morning they stated that this is a time where ethnic, religious and political issues do not come into play, and everyone is in it together to support their athletes.
I think by people boycotting all of this is such a shame. It goes against everything. The olympics started before any of this ‘free tibet’ stuff even happened, so can’t we all just forget about this for 4 weeks?
As the motto states, ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
It’s not just Free Tibet. The gov’s human rights abuses is atrocious. There’s so much pollution in the rural areas that cancer rates are ridiculously high. Also, when they were bidding for the games, they promised to not block internet sites for journalists during the games, but now they took back that promise, and the IOC has done nothing!
Politics aside, I support the Games. It’s not the Chinese people’s fault their government is the way it is. If we really wanted to send a message to China, we’d restrict trading with them, but that’s not going to happen anytimes soon/
August 8th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
my friends are in the olympic band
how cool is that!
one is fourteen.
saxophone.
my other friend is fifteen. she plays the clarinet.
AAHHHH i miss them its so exciting!
August 9th, 2008 at 3:09 am
I’m an American who has lived in Asia and now in England and I wish all could remember that the negativity really impacts the people of China, who are so proud to be hosting the games and does not affect the gov’t who simply doesn’t care. Let’s be positive for all those competing and all those hosting the games.
Also, I’m so tired of hearing about the pollution, but not the polluters! 90% of those factories are foreign contracted. So take off those Cole Haan shoes news presenters and stop buying Reebok and Nike if you really want to stop the pollution.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:57 am
If I remeber correctly, they said on TV that these were the 27th Olympic Games, which come to celebrate the end of the 29th Olympiad, Olympiad being the period of four years between each Olympic Games. There were two times when the Games weren’t held because of the wars.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Gena, sure it’s older than 29 years, because the games take place every four years.
August 9th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Don’t care, hate China. We’re going to be their bitch someday, because we owe them so much money. If they ever cash in, you better start learning Mandarin.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Sydney Olympics faked too!
http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/revealed-sydney-olympics-faked-it-too/2008/08/26/1219516425771.html