Phenomenal. Mind-blowing. Breathtaking. Beijing takes us back to the Tang and Wei Dynasty, exceeds all expectations and superlatives
[OPENING CEREMONY: BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008] Inside China's National Stadium, the Bird's Nest
Jaw-dropping and breathtaking moment when the Olympic rings are being hoisted in the still of the night. It was as if a giant bird gently picked up her eggs from the nest. It was magical.
Tonight we have a complete team coverage by QueerGam bloggers
Ambrose Aban in San Francisco
Chris Goodridge in Portland
Jefferey Johnson in Atlanta
George Tyler in Miami
Phil Spencer in San Francisco
Below, the Ladies of the Tang Dynasty enter the Bird's Nest in their fineries.
Ambrose Aban:
What a magical journey! The Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony tonight burst into life with an awe-inspiring extravaganza of light, colour, history and culture. The ceremony lived up way way way beyond all expectations and exceeded all superlatives, treating 90,000 spectators and 4 billion television viewers around the world to a magical night. It was a performance fit to mark the realization of China's Olympic dream. I watched it with friends, Andrew, Jackson, Chris and John in San Francisco. Our guest bloggers, Phil in San Francisco, Chris in Portland, Jeff in Atlanta, George in Miami also watched with their loved ones and came out with great comments.
Yes, as expected, China didn't waste anytime and made it very very very clear tonight. "Look and see..and learn from us".
The performance, fiercely began with thunderous drumming, celebrated the arts and achievements of imperial China but skipped the fraught 20th century altogether. A chanting troupe intoned the Confucian proverb "Friends have come from afar, how happy we are". It was truly a scintillating scroll through history - to a dream finish. My heart stopped beating for a split second. I have to give it to the Chinese people, especially Yimou who directed and orchestrated the whole thing.
Chris Goodridge:
Ambrose, I 100% agree. Tonight's ceremony definitely showed China's past for bridge from east to west. It was a cultural performance like non other that drew on 5,000 years of history and the resources of China's 1.3 billion people. My dear friend, Simon, originally from the mainland, shed a tear of happiness. It was his night.
President Bush waving to the Team USA, below
Phil Spencer:
We had beer and calamari, pizza and pagoda peanuts as Ambrose recommended. We wanted to go to San Jose to watch but decided to put on our PJs instead and stayed all evening, enjoying the show. The show was totally and truly a celebration of ancient Chinese history, with performers dressed in lavish costumes from different imperial dynasties. What can I say? What is there not to love? From my living room, my partner and three of our closest queer friends were mesmerized. We've never seen anything like that before. NBA star Yao Ming (who looked hot by the way:) proudly carried the Chinese flag. The ceremony reached a climax when the last torch bearer lit the Olympic cauldron. What a show! Mind-blowing.
Jefferey Johnson:
We were (beleive it or not) there with Bush and Laura. During the Parade of Nations, our proud looking President and First Lady stood up very proudly and waved at American athletes as they marched inside the Bird's Nest last night -- and as always, they arrived in great style, looking dapper in their navy RL sportcoats and white berets. We also saw Putin. They had a meeting earlier and Bush asked him to ceasefire in Georgia. I'll talk about that another time. Promise.
George Tyler:
Yes, all eyes tonight were on a couple of Chinese sporting greats who can speak for their respective generations at the Olympic opening ceremony in the National Stadium, or "Bird's Nest". It was most spectacular. We ordered Chinese tonight, had beers and were truly entertained. Absolutely fabulous, outstanding show.
Jefferey Johnson:
Tens of thousands of excited people took to the streets at landmark sites throughout Beijing yesterday to savour the opening ceremony, even though the government urged residents to watch it on television at home because of concerns about traffic and safety. I totally understand why. The fireworks....wow.
The Swiss channeled a skateboarder look.
Ambrose Aban:
As naturally expected, the Chinese made the biggest statement tonight with projected images, performers suspended in the air by strings. Bigger and more spectacular, more impressive than any previous ones. I heard one hundred million dollars were spent to provide that "wow" factor. It was nail-biting as it was dramatic, subdued and at times solemn and sublimed from the get go. You were right Jeff, the fireworks were mesmerizing. A level of commitment and dedication never seen before, a precision at its greatest I'd say. The Games indeed opened tonight with a dramatic opening ceremony featuring a cast of thousands directed by acclaimed Chinese movie director Zhang Yimou.
Chris Goodrigde:
And Yimou wowed the universe. He wowed the world with Raised The Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers. I love the movies. Tonight's show reminded me of the power Yimou put into The House of Flying Daggers.
Ambrose Aban:
The flying acrobats and a lone beribboned female dancer recalled the grottos of Dunhuang, painted in the Wei and Tang dynasties when camel caravans plied the Silk Road. Many view the Tang dynasty as the golden age of China, when it was wealthy and open to the world. That was amazing.
Phil Spencer:
And what about the Blue-robed oarsmen? They enacted seafarers travelling between Southeast Asia and the coast of Fujian, in southern China. Their oars became sails, painted with the "treasure ships" of the eunuch admiral Zheng He who reached Africa in the Ming Dynasty.
George Tyler:
Dancers clacking bamboo props...weren't they representing some of the oldest Chinese records, whose delicate brushstrokes are preserved on bamboo strips over 2,000 years old? I heard the announcers saying somehting about that tonight.
Phil Spencer:
Yes, the undulating grey blocks, I heard they said, symbolised the printing blocks of ancient China, which invented moveable type. They morphed into the Great Wall, a frontier defence whose Badaling section near Beijing is an instantly recognized symbol of China.
Ambrose Aban:
Absolutely. Landscape paintings and scenes of court life were also projected on a giant scroll that unfurled on the stadium floor, while musicians performed traditional airs. Absent were references to the Qing Dynasty, when Western powers made inroads on the disintegrating empire, or the divisive 20th century, when civil war, the Japanese invasion and Mao Zedong's absolute rule drove China into deep poverty.
China's gymnast star, Li Ning
Jefferey Johnson:
It would have taken the whole night to finish. And I would have stayed all night. One of the special moments for me was when children clad in the outfits of China's 56 ethnic groups carried the flag into the stadium. A male and female representative of each ethnic group sang the national anthem as the Chinese flag was raised, illustrating China's claim to unite its diverse population under one nation and party.
Phil Spencer:
The special moments for me were when three astronauts "flew" through the stadium. China has sent three men into space and plans another manned mission later this year. I also love the part where the children waved as a giant scroll they "painted", symbolising respect for nature, is hoisted. Absolutely breathtaking. You are right Jefferey, it would have taken the whole night -- and a global audience of billions would have also stayed all night. But they were definitely treated to a journey through Chinese history and a showcase of modern China's confidence.
George Tyler:
I thought the ceremony concluded perfectly with an ode to regreening the Earth and a celebration of water, both important issues in China which is struggling with choking pollution and loss of farmland after nearly three decades of economic reform. A glowing globe recalled the Olympic ideal of international harmony and China's growing role as a world power.
Ambrose Aban:
And of course mine was the gravity-defying gymnast Li Ning who pulled off the most important aerial trick of his life last night, traversing the upper roof of the "Bird's Nest" in the style of a kung fu movie star before lighting the Olympic cauldron. What a scene!
Chris Goodridge:
I love Spain the most. I hate Sarah Brightman's outfit.
Phil Spencer:
And her hair was a mess. Her voice was cartoonish, she tried too hard to sound like a Chinese opera singer. But I definitely love the Ralph Lauren's sportcoats and white berets for Team USA. I thought the Americans looked stylish and sassy.
Jefferey Johnson: And Yao Ming and that little boy - the earthquake survivor, hot hot hot. Yao Ming understands the long history of basketball in China and the passion that his countrymen have for the game. What he's hoping for is understanding and compassion for his Chinese national team in the Olympic tournament that begins on Sunday. Yao and his gang don't have a shot at any kind of medal. We hope people are not disappointed. China's goal is to advance out of the preliminary round to reach the quarterfinals, which would equal the nation's best finish ever in a major international competition. China has twice taken eighth place in the Olympics (Atlanta, 1996 and Athens, 2004) and also finished eighth at the 1994 World Championship in Toronto.
George Tyler: You are right. The task for Yao and his gang is difficult right from the start as they'll open the Olympic competition on Sunday against the NBA All-Star-studden lineup of Team USA, which features Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. As for the uniforms, I love The Netherlands the most, stylish and chic.
Ambrose Aban: Team USA's basketball guys are hot. And they will win gold. They came back with a goal to bring back the gold to the original land of basketball. And Jason Kidd, hot! My favroite uniform - the Australian outfits. As for the playoff between Team USA and China, it’s going to be bigger than Yao Ming. It’s going to be bigger than the Great Wall. It’s going to be bigger than all the tea in the Middle Kingdom. Every one of the participants has played in big games before, but nothing like this. When the NBA stars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Team USA square off against Yao Ming’s Chinese national team on Sunday, the event will create fireworks that could rival the display in the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
Jefferey Johnson:
I think close to 3 billion people are gonna be watching that game. That’s what they say. That’s what I hear. That’s a lot of people.
Phil Spencer:
The atmosphere is gonna be crazy. We’re playing against the home team to open up the Olympics and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be crazy and energetic in there. Everybody in that building is gonna be jumping. It’s the biggest game on the biggest stage in the world.
Gorgeous NBA star, Jason Kidd, will be playing for Team USA
Chris Goodridge:
The United States enters the Olympic tournament once more as the heavy favorite to win the gold medal, while China will be challenged to advance out of the preliminary round.. But the basketball-mad host country playing its first game against the global superstars of the NBA, there is speculation that the world-wide television audience for the game (9:15 a.m. Houston time on NBC) could be the largest in Olympic history.
Ambrose Aban:
President Bush will attend the game along with China’s president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao. The cast of veteran NBA stars, all of whom have been in the playoffs is just as thrilled. It’s gonna be absolutely exciting. I am not a big fan of basketball (also because I don't know how to review the game) but definitely be watching Jason Kidd and Yao Min in action. I will be salivating over Jason, that's for sure. He will sweating and all...
Jefferey Johnson:
LOL...I will be too, Ambrose. I expect the crowd to be amazing, incredible. If you can just imagine and try to wrap your minds around the opening tip with Dwight Howard and Yao Ming. As soon as that ball goes up, every camera in the building is gonna be flashing. People are saying this is supposed to be the most watched event in basketball history. For us to be a part of that, for our kids, our grandkids, is something that will be something to look back on when we’re older. Honestly, that’s amazing.
Ambrose Aban:
As for the uniform, I love the Chinese ladies wearing the red Cheongsam, carrying the names of participating nations. They were stunning -- again beyond Giorgio Armani or Oscar or Herrera and the likes. Absolutely fabulous. A grand affair. Definitely tivo the show!
Jaw-dropping and breathtaking moment when the Olympic rings are being hoisted in the still of the night. It was as if a giant bird gently picked up her eggs from the nest. It was magical.
Tonight we have a complete team coverage by QueerGam bloggers
Ambrose Aban in San Francisco
Chris Goodridge in Portland
Jefferey Johnson in Atlanta
George Tyler in Miami
Phil Spencer in San Francisco
Below, the Ladies of the Tang Dynasty enter the Bird's Nest in their fineries.
Ambrose Aban:
What a magical journey! The Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony tonight burst into life with an awe-inspiring extravaganza of light, colour, history and culture. The ceremony lived up way way way beyond all expectations and exceeded all superlatives, treating 90,000 spectators and 4 billion television viewers around the world to a magical night. It was a performance fit to mark the realization of China's Olympic dream. I watched it with friends, Andrew, Jackson, Chris and John in San Francisco. Our guest bloggers, Phil in San Francisco, Chris in Portland, Jeff in Atlanta, George in Miami also watched with their loved ones and came out with great comments.
Yes, as expected, China didn't waste anytime and made it very very very clear tonight. "Look and see..and learn from us".
The performance, fiercely began with thunderous drumming, celebrated the arts and achievements of imperial China but skipped the fraught 20th century altogether. A chanting troupe intoned the Confucian proverb "Friends have come from afar, how happy we are". It was truly a scintillating scroll through history - to a dream finish. My heart stopped beating for a split second. I have to give it to the Chinese people, especially Yimou who directed and orchestrated the whole thing.
Chris Goodridge:
Ambrose, I 100% agree. Tonight's ceremony definitely showed China's past for bridge from east to west. It was a cultural performance like non other that drew on 5,000 years of history and the resources of China's 1.3 billion people. My dear friend, Simon, originally from the mainland, shed a tear of happiness. It was his night.
President Bush waving to the Team USA, below
Phil Spencer:
We had beer and calamari, pizza and pagoda peanuts as Ambrose recommended. We wanted to go to San Jose to watch but decided to put on our PJs instead and stayed all evening, enjoying the show. The show was totally and truly a celebration of ancient Chinese history, with performers dressed in lavish costumes from different imperial dynasties. What can I say? What is there not to love? From my living room, my partner and three of our closest queer friends were mesmerized. We've never seen anything like that before. NBA star Yao Ming (who looked hot by the way:) proudly carried the Chinese flag. The ceremony reached a climax when the last torch bearer lit the Olympic cauldron. What a show! Mind-blowing.
Jefferey Johnson:
We were (beleive it or not) there with Bush and Laura. During the Parade of Nations, our proud looking President and First Lady stood up very proudly and waved at American athletes as they marched inside the Bird's Nest last night -- and as always, they arrived in great style, looking dapper in their navy RL sportcoats and white berets. We also saw Putin. They had a meeting earlier and Bush asked him to ceasefire in Georgia. I'll talk about that another time. Promise.
George Tyler:
Yes, all eyes tonight were on a couple of Chinese sporting greats who can speak for their respective generations at the Olympic opening ceremony in the National Stadium, or "Bird's Nest". It was most spectacular. We ordered Chinese tonight, had beers and were truly entertained. Absolutely fabulous, outstanding show.
Jefferey Johnson:
Tens of thousands of excited people took to the streets at landmark sites throughout Beijing yesterday to savour the opening ceremony, even though the government urged residents to watch it on television at home because of concerns about traffic and safety. I totally understand why. The fireworks....wow.
The Swiss channeled a skateboarder look.
Ambrose Aban:
As naturally expected, the Chinese made the biggest statement tonight with projected images, performers suspended in the air by strings. Bigger and more spectacular, more impressive than any previous ones. I heard one hundred million dollars were spent to provide that "wow" factor. It was nail-biting as it was dramatic, subdued and at times solemn and sublimed from the get go. You were right Jeff, the fireworks were mesmerizing. A level of commitment and dedication never seen before, a precision at its greatest I'd say. The Games indeed opened tonight with a dramatic opening ceremony featuring a cast of thousands directed by acclaimed Chinese movie director Zhang Yimou.
Chris Goodrigde:
And Yimou wowed the universe. He wowed the world with Raised The Red Lantern and House of Flying Daggers. I love the movies. Tonight's show reminded me of the power Yimou put into The House of Flying Daggers.
Ambrose Aban:
The flying acrobats and a lone beribboned female dancer recalled the grottos of Dunhuang, painted in the Wei and Tang dynasties when camel caravans plied the Silk Road. Many view the Tang dynasty as the golden age of China, when it was wealthy and open to the world. That was amazing.
Phil Spencer:
And what about the Blue-robed oarsmen? They enacted seafarers travelling between Southeast Asia and the coast of Fujian, in southern China. Their oars became sails, painted with the "treasure ships" of the eunuch admiral Zheng He who reached Africa in the Ming Dynasty.
George Tyler:
Dancers clacking bamboo props...weren't they representing some of the oldest Chinese records, whose delicate brushstrokes are preserved on bamboo strips over 2,000 years old? I heard the announcers saying somehting about that tonight.
Phil Spencer:
Yes, the undulating grey blocks, I heard they said, symbolised the printing blocks of ancient China, which invented moveable type. They morphed into the Great Wall, a frontier defence whose Badaling section near Beijing is an instantly recognized symbol of China.
Ambrose Aban:
Absolutely. Landscape paintings and scenes of court life were also projected on a giant scroll that unfurled on the stadium floor, while musicians performed traditional airs. Absent were references to the Qing Dynasty, when Western powers made inroads on the disintegrating empire, or the divisive 20th century, when civil war, the Japanese invasion and Mao Zedong's absolute rule drove China into deep poverty.
China's gymnast star, Li NingJefferey Johnson:
It would have taken the whole night to finish. And I would have stayed all night. One of the special moments for me was when children clad in the outfits of China's 56 ethnic groups carried the flag into the stadium. A male and female representative of each ethnic group sang the national anthem as the Chinese flag was raised, illustrating China's claim to unite its diverse population under one nation and party.
Phil Spencer:
The special moments for me were when three astronauts "flew" through the stadium. China has sent three men into space and plans another manned mission later this year. I also love the part where the children waved as a giant scroll they "painted", symbolising respect for nature, is hoisted. Absolutely breathtaking. You are right Jefferey, it would have taken the whole night -- and a global audience of billions would have also stayed all night. But they were definitely treated to a journey through Chinese history and a showcase of modern China's confidence.
George Tyler:
I thought the ceremony concluded perfectly with an ode to regreening the Earth and a celebration of water, both important issues in China which is struggling with choking pollution and loss of farmland after nearly three decades of economic reform. A glowing globe recalled the Olympic ideal of international harmony and China's growing role as a world power.
Ambrose Aban:
And of course mine was the gravity-defying gymnast Li Ning who pulled off the most important aerial trick of his life last night, traversing the upper roof of the "Bird's Nest" in the style of a kung fu movie star before lighting the Olympic cauldron. What a scene!
Chris Goodridge:
I love Spain the most. I hate Sarah Brightman's outfit.
Phil Spencer:
And her hair was a mess. Her voice was cartoonish, she tried too hard to sound like a Chinese opera singer. But I definitely love the Ralph Lauren's sportcoats and white berets for Team USA. I thought the Americans looked stylish and sassy.
Jefferey Johnson: And Yao Ming and that little boy - the earthquake survivor, hot hot hot. Yao Ming understands the long history of basketball in China and the passion that his countrymen have for the game. What he's hoping for is understanding and compassion for his Chinese national team in the Olympic tournament that begins on Sunday. Yao and his gang don't have a shot at any kind of medal. We hope people are not disappointed. China's goal is to advance out of the preliminary round to reach the quarterfinals, which would equal the nation's best finish ever in a major international competition. China has twice taken eighth place in the Olympics (Atlanta, 1996 and Athens, 2004) and also finished eighth at the 1994 World Championship in Toronto.
George Tyler: You are right. The task for Yao and his gang is difficult right from the start as they'll open the Olympic competition on Sunday against the NBA All-Star-studden lineup of Team USA, which features Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. As for the uniforms, I love The Netherlands the most, stylish and chic.
Ambrose Aban: Team USA's basketball guys are hot. And they will win gold. They came back with a goal to bring back the gold to the original land of basketball. And Jason Kidd, hot! My favroite uniform - the Australian outfits. As for the playoff between Team USA and China, it’s going to be bigger than Yao Ming. It’s going to be bigger than the Great Wall. It’s going to be bigger than all the tea in the Middle Kingdom. Every one of the participants has played in big games before, but nothing like this. When the NBA stars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Team USA square off against Yao Ming’s Chinese national team on Sunday, the event will create fireworks that could rival the display in the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
Jefferey Johnson:
I think close to 3 billion people are gonna be watching that game. That’s what they say. That’s what I hear. That’s a lot of people.
Phil Spencer:
The atmosphere is gonna be crazy. We’re playing against the home team to open up the Olympics and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be crazy and energetic in there. Everybody in that building is gonna be jumping. It’s the biggest game on the biggest stage in the world.
Gorgeous NBA star, Jason Kidd, will be playing for Team USA
Chris Goodridge:
The United States enters the Olympic tournament once more as the heavy favorite to win the gold medal, while China will be challenged to advance out of the preliminary round.. But the basketball-mad host country playing its first game against the global superstars of the NBA, there is speculation that the world-wide television audience for the game (9:15 a.m. Houston time on NBC) could be the largest in Olympic history.
Ambrose Aban:
President Bush will attend the game along with China’s president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao. The cast of veteran NBA stars, all of whom have been in the playoffs is just as thrilled. It’s gonna be absolutely exciting. I am not a big fan of basketball (also because I don't know how to review the game) but definitely be watching Jason Kidd and Yao Min in action. I will be salivating over Jason, that's for sure. He will sweating and all...
Jefferey Johnson:
LOL...I will be too, Ambrose. I expect the crowd to be amazing, incredible. If you can just imagine and try to wrap your minds around the opening tip with Dwight Howard and Yao Ming. As soon as that ball goes up, every camera in the building is gonna be flashing. People are saying this is supposed to be the most watched event in basketball history. For us to be a part of that, for our kids, our grandkids, is something that will be something to look back on when we’re older. Honestly, that’s amazing.
Ambrose Aban:
As for the uniform, I love the Chinese ladies wearing the red Cheongsam, carrying the names of participating nations. They were stunning -- again beyond Giorgio Armani or Oscar or Herrera and the likes. Absolutely fabulous. A grand affair. Definitely tivo the show!
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