- Joined: January 2002
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Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China
I read all the hype on the opening ceremonies and man did it deliver. Excellent show. Now to watch the hours set to Tivo.
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- Joined: September 2000
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Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China
Beautiful opening ceremony. We were sad to miss a trip to Beijing a couple of years ago due to an illness but watching the Olympic coverage in gorgeous hi-def helps to make up for it.
During the parade of athletes my wife and I became anxious for the competition to start so we voted on the ugliest team outfits. Cuba got our votes although the competition was close from a couple of other countries.
Also, I can't remember their name but the small country with the lampshade hats got our vote as most likely to be the life of the party.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
- Joined: May 2002
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Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China
Amazing work. My mother is quite proud of her native country. I don't have quite the connection she does, but I admit I got a little misty with the torch piece. That may be because it was being carried by Li Ning, who was a big part of the first Olympics I ever experienced (albeit on TV). My dad's name is Ning also, so a running joke in our family has now been resurrected!
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- Joined: January 2002
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Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China
Wow, I didn't know that Zhang Yimou was directing. No wonder it was the best OC ever. Simply amazing. This will be the first OC that I go back and re-watch.
Proud new member of the Tivolution - TV my way
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Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China
Quote:
| It was an amazing ceremony but Costas said the thing cost 300 MILLION dollars to produce. If this were any other country the organizers would have been kicked out of the country for being fiscally irresponsible, especially if it were on the taxpayers' dime. |
Actually they might even make a profit:Cost-Sharing
Despite a jump in the Olympic spending, many believed the Beijing Games would not incur financial deficit.
A source close to the Olympic operation told the EO that market development earnings for the Games had exceeded expectations. He said the Beijing Games could have the potential of becoming "profitable".
It was learned that the Chinese government once thought of providing direct subsidies for the Games, but as market exploration and development gained momentum, the plan was dropped.
The EO learned that major sources of funding for the Games came from IOC appropriation, mainly drawn from telecast copyrights and the Olympic partner programme, which included sponsors like Coca-cola, General Electric Company, Johnson & Johnson, Kodak, McDonald's, and Lenovo China.
The above is from an Aug 4, 2008 report here:Taking Stock of Beijing Olympic FinancesFrom the same link they also mention this:However, one scholar who studies the economics of Olympics, said China was less concerned about profits or losses, he added best returns from the Games was to enhance China's international image.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
- Joined: January 2002
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Re: 2008 Summer Olympics - Beijing, China
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Thi Them
I knew Zhang Yimou has put some of the most breathtaking visuals ever on film, but wow, I was really impressed with what he was able to do live.
~T
|
I just saw that on tape and the combination of
MASSIVE scale and
extreme precision totally blew me away.
How about that
totally amazing sequence with the "movable typefaces"? All done under human control?
Raymond in Sacramento, CA USA
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