Olympic Revival

Since the Beijing Olympics started on 8/8/08, i was able to catch the opening ceremony on tv last night. As far as Olympic opening ceremonies go, from what i remember, they are usually very extravagant and over the top. However, watching the show that the Chinese put on last night stood out as even more extravagant, over the top, and more importantly, seemed like some sort of coming out party for them. For a long time, China has been rising as both an economic powerhouse and a military one with over 2 million soldiers and double that of the next closest nation (who else would you guess, the US). As i watched the countdown to the opening ceremony and the 2008 drummers in the middle of the stadium drumming in unison it felt like i was watching some kind of military ceremony as the drummers seemed like they were there to intimidate more than entertain. And if intimidation was the goal, i think it may have worked to an extent.

Opening Ceremony Drummers pt 1

Opening Ceremony Drummers pt2


China has been trying to garner international recognition as a world super power for years and they viewed these Olympic games as the time when the entire world would be forced to focus in on them and i am sure they have been planning since before the day they even were selected to host the games. While the Olympic games might not hold the same importance that they once did internationally, China has clearly shown that they still hold them in very high regard. Whether you see it through their Child Athlete Schools that train young Chinese nationals since birth with the sole purpose of representing China in the Olympic games or through the tireless effort and practice you can see that has gone into planning and preparing to host the 2008 games.

I remember just a few years ago, it felt like people cared so much more about the Olympics. I dont know if its simply because i stopped caring as much about the Olympics, or people all over the world stopped paying as much attention. However, I remember watching the 1998 Olympics in Nagano late at night live on tv as Jonny Moseley won the Men's Moguls event and going to school the next day and it was what everyone was talking about. Since then, the last time anything crazy happened in the Olympics, you wouldn't hear a word about it at school, except maybe a quick, "You watch the Olympics last night?".

But, maybe this is good for the world. Maybe China's over the top opening ceremony that has everyone talking is the start of an Olympic games that will revive international competition and the 2008 games will make the Olympics relevant again.