Finally. After all the predictions of disaster, accusations of incompetence and all round general hoo-ha, I’m glad Athens pulled off an amazing opening ceremony. The effects were awesome, my personal favourites being the mask that splits into a dozen pieces, the torch-bearers running through the air, and the exquisitely detailed, supremely creative parade through Greek history. Absolutely beautiful.
Even my distinctly unexcited sister sat through all 4 hours of it, though I have to admit her interests lay more in the parade of nations. I suppose she does have a point. Where else will you get a parade of potentially exotic men from all over the world? And many of them being pretty good-looking athletes at that.
And so the eagerly-anticipated opening ceremony is over. Glitch-free. Unless of course you’re thinking of the rather painful pause during the athlete’s vow. I swear half the world stopped breathing when the poor girl forgot her lines for 5 long seconds. Anyway, for those who missed out, here’re some of my personal highlights from the opening ceremony, few of which will ever be mentioned in any repeat.
The commentator is talking about a female athlete from a country I forget, going, “Watch out for her, she has a real chance of making the finals of the 100 metres,” when he realizes the camera has zoomed in on a erm…rather unathletic woman. “No, not her,” he quickly adds, “the woman who was in front of her.”
Our 14 year old Malaysian flag-bearer. I hope I get to watch him in action. Does anyone know why he got to hold the flag?
Seeing Chinese marching in practically every single country in the parade. I’m not exaggerating. Apparently our ancestors were rather adventurous, travel bug-bitten people, and that is why we are the most widely-spread race in the world. Now I know where I got my traveling urges from.
Noticing how the camera, upon being swarmed by a crowd of particularly over-excited athletes, all eager to attach their noses to the camera lens, promptly rose up and away from the screaming mass to give us a birds-eye-view of the parade instead.
All the representatives from 202 nations, complete with names of countries I’d never heard of in my life. Special mention goes to East Timor, who are marching as an independent nation for the first time (definite highlight), and Saudi Arabia, who didn’t have a single female representative – and I don’t think it’s because their female athletes suck (definitely not a highlight). Interesting also to note that “Hong Kong” is now referred to as “Hong Kong, China”, but “Nepal” remains, deceivingly, “Nepal”.
The special message from astronauts in space (were they Greek?), who even attempted an astral version of a 100 metre float.
The Olympic flag being carried around the track by a runner who broke through “finishing lines” that symbolized every Olympic Games since 1896. There were even two pauses to represent the two world wars.
Let the Games begin.
I can’t believe so few people are excited.
Related posts:
