One of the commentators made the point after the dazzling opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics that there will never be another ceremony to match it. At least until Beijing holds another Olympic Games in, say, 20 years or so.
All the other past presentations, including Sydney’s ceremony, look like amateur hour at the local flea pit compared with the technological and theatrical stunts put on at Beijing.
The ceremony was so opulent and stunning that at the end of it, when the athletes made their march past, which is usually the highlight of the opening night, you had the feeling that Chinas had already won its Olympic Games.
It’s a cliche to make the argument that granting the Games to Beijing was a way of forcing the Communist Party regime to come to terms with being a major political and economic power, especially with the way China is governed.
So the torch relay was disrupted and Falun Gong protesters have had demonstrations, even inside China.
But watching the opening ceremony, it became clear to me that China allowed this argument to go forward as a way of encouraging the IOC to give Beijing the Games and the logistical support needed to run the events as smoothly as possible.
But the real purpose of the holding the Games, as far as the ruling regime is concerned, is to entrench the Communist Party rule in China.
The opening ceremony was all about doing just this.
Why would the strutting military people be shown? And the various ethnic communities in China were represented by groups of children.
But more importantly, the magnificence of the ceremony was a sermon to the population of China that under the rule of the Communist Party the nation is capable of putting on an event that no other nation, not even the United States with all its resources, can hope to match.
A Pew Research opinion poll has found that over 80 percent of Chinese people think that the regime is doing a good job.
My guess is that, right now, and after the Games are finished and China has a swag of medals, this number will be even higher.
In this respect, the 2008 Games resemble in some ways (but not essentially) the infamous 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin when an unscrupulous regime was able to present itself as a dynamic and achieving government to its own people, particularly, and to many others around the world with an organisational triumph of an iconic sporting event.
It beats making the trains run on time to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Maximus
Guest
CAN SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY STEVE WAUGH WAS MARCHING IN THE FINAL CEREMONY? Actually, come to think of it, who were all those people...
Peter K
Guest
What is notable is that the Chinese Women are excelling weightlifting, rowing swimming in non traditional sports. Men no impact. I can't help but think drugs as well.
Hoy
Guest
A little off subject, but I just can't help but watch all the events that China are competing in where they are not traditionally strong (like rowing), and thing "DRUGS". I can't help it. It just pops into my head. Even though I know that the home advantage gives competitors a huge boost, the past has tainted certain nations in my eyes. I would like to hope that no athletes get what they don't deserve.
stuff happens
Guest
This article of yours Spiro is looking more 'previous' (as Tel would say in Minder ) by the day.Matthew Engel in the FT in London has a piece on Tues "Where are all the people? " and anyone who watched the women's cylcing roadrace would agree. The opening ceremony is not the litmus test for the Olympics host.Let's wait until the games are over before we pass judgement. Having said that I admit I was appalled that the Olympics went to China in the first place a - decision that was a testament to corporate greed which perhaps inevitably drives the business of the games. - so yes I'm biased.
Dave
Guest
My question is where does the spending stop for the Opening Ceremony? The Beijing OC was rumoured to cost $300million. Why dont we just arrange for a quadrenniel opening ceremony competition with countries to enter on a limited budget of say 10m each and see who does the best! If the IOC had any balls they would limit the spending on the OC and instead hand some of that cash to projects to benefit the local communities. In fact why not ban OC for all world championship tournaments eg World Cup, Comm Games and just have a participant parade? Ironic that a Communist regime has indeed demonstrated the most flagrant and gross excesses of a capitalist world (whilst many of their own suffer in dire hardship).
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Ian, I am looking forward to the London Olympics, and an England Rugby World Cup in 2015. My only negative about these two events, and this is historical rather than actual, is that I hope both events are better run than the 1991 RWC which was poorly run. Let bygones be bygones, though. I anticipate a wonderful, humourous and slightly laid back Olympics from the London authorities. To my mind this is a far superior mode than the gimlet-eyed, smiling-through-clenched teeth, faux enthusiasm and chauvinstic cheering we are currently seeing in Beijing.
sheek
Guest
Spiro, The Americans have this profound belief that democracy is the only form of government.....for anybody. As a mate asked me, "Will Americans still be in love with democracy, when the 'get rich quick' dream evaporates"? That's a can of worms I won't open! Suffice to say, different strokes for different folks. It may be that communism is just as good for Chinese as democracy is for Americans. "Vive la difference", as the French would say! Ian, London would be wise NOT to try & emulate Beijing. The Brits should just do their usual, understated, restrained, quaint, humorous, self-deprecating thing.
Ian Noble
Guest
Spiro Spot on. I was llstening to the radio commentary of part of the cycling road race and it appeared that a large group of Chinese were marshalled to appear as the cyclists appeared on the circuits and shout encouragement to the leaders as they passed and then disappeared only to reappear under orders as the cyclists reappeared. shades of 1984 and "rent a crowd". Good for TV and national coverage but... London has a hard act to follow and I hope we don't try and compete. The opening ceremony whilst being spectacular must have cost a furtune and if the UK used the same number of military personnel, the army could not function during 2011/2012. By the way you may be imterested to know that a number of key personnel involved with London 2012 were responsible for Sydney 2000. Good appointments as they have the knowledge and experience to help London 2012 be a success. On the building front, work has commenced on both the main stadium and the aquatic centre three months ahead of schedule. As for the opening ceremony BBC Radio Five Live has been asking for suggestions, red buses, morris dancers, Monty Python, Elton John, et al have featured. I hope London has a smile on it's face!