There are lots of theories about how the opening ceremony of the
2008 Beijing Olympic Games will or should look, but it is likely to
remain one of the Games' best-kept secrets.
Will traditional Chinese elements be foregrounded, or will it
take on a more futuristic or international flavor?
At a forum in Beijing on April 14, public representatives from
various industries and social sectors debated the merits of
contrasting forms and styles.
"An old Beijing local told me that he expected to see folk
cultural elements like kite-flying and diabolos (similar to yo-yos)
at the ceremony," said Yu Kai, a taxi driver in Beijing.
"I have collected ideas from my passengers, and some foreigners
told me they want to see exotic Asian elements."
One teacher suggested lighting the Olympic flame in a dazzling
display of traditional acrobatics.
"We could borrow the idea of Chinese acrobatics, such as people
standing on one another's shoulders to light the flame at the end
of the ceremony," said Shi Chao of the National Education
Administrative College.
Experts in China's folk customs said it would only be fair to
represent the country's often-overlooked ethnic minorities.
"The Olympic Games is a world festival," said Liu Tieliang, a
professor at Beijing Normal University.
"So we should make use of the festival customs of different
ethnic minorities."
Some of the advisers at the meeting had other ideas.
"Traditional Chinese culture has its own limitations," said
Zhang Yiwu, a professor from Peking University.
"We need to pay attention to international trends and fashions
as well.
"We also have to simplify China's rich, 5000-year-old culture so
it makes sense to people. We don't need too much detail."
Sports commentator Li Chengpeng voiced his support for this
point.
"The opening ceremony should be designed with foreigners in
mind, so we don't have to put too many Chinese elements together,"
he said.
"It should be a grand ceremony with a combination of hi-tech
measures involving lasers, fireworks and water."
According to Zhang Yimou, head of the creative team for the
opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Games, the outline of
the opening ceremony has been worked out and the team is now
fine-turning details.
A final plan will be proposed to the International Olympic
Committee for approval this August.
"The opening ceremony is not a simple creation, even though the
performance only lasts for 50 minutes," he said, adding that it was
impossible to please everybody.
"It will make use of distinctive artistic characteristics;
otherwise, it will be a failure."
(China Daily April 20, 2007)