Joy - Start like a dragon and end like a snake

Start like a dragon and end like a snake
by Joy Dickson, Sunday August 24, 1008 at 10:16pm

This is a popular Chinese saying that usually describes how events and performances are organized and I have to say the Opening and Closing of the Beijing Olympics followed this to a tee. Once again, by the time most of you see the closing ceremony, NBC and BBC would have edited out the shot of the back of a spectator's head that remained in focus about 5 seconds too long, the camera man that was so determined to get a close up of one of the cute little girls with the volunteers that he blocked the path of one of the little boys, the white female official looking through her binoculars, or the shots of the flag pole instead of the athletes.

But what you probably will definitely miss out on is the passing of the flag fiasco. While I am not the biggest fan of the concept of saving face, for the sake of the mayors of Beijing and London, I do hope the editors work their magic and digitally enhance or cut out the whole scene. I guess the first clue that something was going to go wrong was when the flag carrier hit himself in the head with the flag as he gave it to the mayor of Beijing. The poor mayor tried his best to wave it but it looked like he was holding a jumping fish on a pole. The flag itself never caught wind and so it looked like a windshield wiper going back and forth. At least the mayor of London tried to look as if he was having fun. Is it me or does he look like the late Chris Farley?

The precision and accuracy that we witnessed in the performances of the Opening ceremonies were barely visible in the Closing. My friends Kamara, Vimbayi, Auria and I kept wondering whose bright idea was it to let the athletes run wildly out on the field? I also hope they edited out the Men's marathon silver medalist from Morocco stumbling and shaking from fatigue on the podium as he received his award. Brother man was tired and it showed.

We were also happy to learn that there are bike helmets in China. I have lived here for 3 years and the only people that I have seen wearing a bike helmet are the children of American parents. With all of the bicyclers in Beijing, no one man, woman or child wears a helmet. It was also good to see that there are sturdier harnesses for people to wear when jumping or hanging from high places. The window washer I usually see uses a rope and/or a piece of wood to sit on.

Speaking of people jumping or hanging from things, I loved the part of the show where the guys were on the tower running in the air and flying across the stadium. That was amazing. We assumed that they were the PLA( People Liberation Army) because everything was so perfect and flawless. The dancing ladies with the bells were also cool.

The one thing that I was most proud of was that the Olympic Volunteers were recognized for their efforts. They truly deserved to be publicly recognized for their hard work. Hands down they were the most polite and willing to help people that I have met in Beijing. They might not have always given you the right information but they all (sometimes five at a time) tried their best to help you and did it with a smile. Even when some expats decided to mess with them by asking them stupid questions like what day does the Olympics start and where is Mao, they remained calm and did their best to help. And sometimes the weather was unbearable but their commitment to help was not deterred at all.

Unfortunately, the volunteer recognition and the PLA flying through the air were the only noteworthy performances. Oops I forgot the Opera singing. Was that Placedo Domingo singing? (Yes, I do like Opera) Unfortunately when you watch it live on Chinese TV you don't get the English commentary.

Anyway, the show tried its best to feature the highlights of the games and I hope that they edited out the three athletes standing on the staircase looking as lost as we were bored with their part of the performance. Someone did not think that scene through or pay off the guy that was supposed to finish it.

The distinguishing of the torch was so uneventful. We all looked at each other and asked did we miss it? Again, hopefully NBC and BBC will work its magic and you will not be stuck asking that question.

Fortunately, for London they set the bar so low with that performance they have no where to go but up. My friend Pat suggested that maybe they should just hire the person that did the Beijing Opening ceremonies and call it a day. I did like the double decker transformer bus thing. Who was that guy playing air guitar ( now that London has exposed the lip syncing child, everyone's performance is coming into question)? I also could not understand what, her name escapes me, was singing, perhaps the sound will be better for you.

And then came the most disappointing part of London's performance, Beckham. Don't get me wrong. I think he is one of the hottest men on the planet ( and I usually don't go for the blonde and blue type). And he is the Michael Jordan of Soccer/Football but what was that kick all about? With all of the wires that people were flying from throughout the performance, no one thought to put one on the soccer ball and let it fly through the air after he kicked and hit the lit torch forcing it to explode with fire works and then going out afterwards. NOW that would have been awesome and a perfect ending.

Oh, I do have to give London their props for showing diversity. There were so many people of color in their performance, it made feel like FINALLY some one might be getting it. I know it was just a performance but still it was nice to see a variety of faces represent the British Empire.

And unfortunately for you, you won't get to see the scenes from the camera man who left his on after the performance had ended and captured the performers running around afterwards, taking their costumes off, talking on their cell phones, wiping sweat and make up off their faces, folks doozing off. Thank god for edited American television because there are somethings you just don't need to see on TV.

Fortunately, Auria's father distracted us with his quest to find the best spot in her apartment to view the fireworks over Chao yang park
(were beach volleyball was held) and provided another source of entertainment. Once the fireworks started, and these were real not digitally enhanced, I started to feel sad. There is nothing like watching a live fireworks show in Beijing. It is one of the most beautiful and exciting things to watch. As much as I complain about the fifteen days of non-stop noise during Chinese New Year, I am going to miss seeing the fire works. Watching fireworks in China goes on my list of there is nothing like... (doing) in (location).

Well the flame is finally out and the spectator security tents are down at Gong ti and life goes on in Beijing at least for one more week for me.