Beijing Olympics 2008 Closing Ceremony

After an impressive opening ceremony, I must say the closing ceremony was a disappointment.

It was simple, nothing elaborate, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing to take your breath away. Just people entering the grounds, walking around, simple mass displays (although still with thousands of performers), and the usual singing.

I guess with such an impactful opening ceremony, everything else will pale in comparison, and it will be hard to keep up for future Olympics.

Remembering defeat

Today is the 63rd anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War Two. Time flies, generations have passed since the war, and the present generation knows little about the war besides what they learn from books. And to mark this memorable day, guess what the Japanese ministers did?

Japan ministers, but not premier, visit war shrine

Talk about learning from mistakes...

Yasukuni Shrine has so much controversy surrounding it not just because of the shrine proper (which enshrined war criminals, though its main purpose is to enshrine all those who died for the Japanese emperor), but because within the same compounds, there is a musuem that glorifies the deeds of those enshrined. This of course means the things that they did during World War Two. It is hard to convince your neighbours that you have learnt from your mistakes, if you continue to think that those mistakes are glorious deeds to be honoured.

National Day Parade 2008

After watching the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, all I can say is that our national day parade pales in comparison. While we obviously don't have 1.3 billion people to choose and work with, just comparing the fireworks is enough. Each year, we boast that we have superb fireworks during our national day parade. This year, we compare with what was seen during the Olympics opening ceremony, and that 5-minute fireworks that we had on National Day. It is something that just cannot be compared. They are in totally different leagues.

But still, parades serve their purpose, which is to show the world what a nation can do. The ability for a military to organise an event is similar to its ability to organise a military campaign.

Beijing Olympics 2008 Opening Ceremony

Just to share some thoughts on the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

In summary, it was impressive. After all, it is not everyday that you see a whole stadium of thousands of performers. More than 2000 drummers, covering the stadium floor, carrying out a traditional drum performance. Or that same number of people, doing a mass taiji/wushu display, so well coordinated. A few hundred people forming a moving typing press. The giant fireworks footsteps really seemed like a giant walking to the stadium. And many more. These mass displays made possible not by machines, but by the hard work and time spent on practice by human beings.
It goes to show just what is possible when China wants something bad enough, to throw in the resources, time and effort into making the Olympics a success. A nation that can do such a feat, even if challenged technologically and politically now, will no doubt be a player to watch out for in the future.

In the mass displays, China has shown the world the inventions that the Chinese have delivered that have influenced history. Now, it remains for us to see what the Chinese of the future have to deliver to put themselves back into being makers of history. And the first step is this historical event known as the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.