“The world gave me eight minutes
and I will give the world a surprise,” said renowned
producer/director Zhang Yimou, who is gearing up to put on a
stunning eight-minute show at the closing ceremony of the Athens
Olympics.
Some 130 Chinese artists will
present the segment he created at the Olympic Stadium on
Sunday.
Zhang said, “The show is mainly
dancing and movements that everyone will be able to understand. My
aim is to show the world that Chinese culture is also
international.”
The segment is presented to
introduce Beijing as the host of the next Olympics, in 2008.
Jiang Xiaoyu, vice chairman of
Beijing Olympics organizing committee, said, “The national anthem
will be played for about 49 seconds. Then Athens will hand over the
Olympic flag to Beijing officials.” The performance will follow the
passing of the flag.
This is the second time Zhang Yimou
has worked on an Olympics-related program. In 2001, he directed a
short film to promote Beijing’s Olympic bid.
A medal winner himself at such
prestigious venues as the Cannes and Venice international film
festivals for films including Raise the Red Lantern and
To Live, Zhang has also been chosen to direct the opening
ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
(CCTV.com, China.org.cn August 26, 2004)