Beijing opening ceremony - as it happened

Tag : chiffon printing

17.06 The cauldron-lighter is revealed..
Here comes the flame. It’s making its way round the stadium,passing from Chinese Olympic medallist to Chinese Olympicmedallist. All these gymnast and divers and table tennis players,but who’s going to get the final gig of launching the flameskywards to that giant cauldron up there? It was Li Ning, anelderly gymnast who was lofted high up on a wire to a degree thatyou feared for his head for heights. Once up there, he circled thestadium roof unfurling a scroll as he went until he lit the flame.And blimey, that’s what you call a flame. Look out yourwindow and I expect you’ll be able to see it…
16.16pm Here come the hosts...
What a great noise. And what a great sight. The Chinese havearrived to tumultuous cheering. And they’re marching behindYao Ming, all seven and a bit feet of him, carrying the Chineseflag, wearing a big grin. It’s some visual statement that.Some statement of intent. And he’s walking in with a tinylittle kid. Aaah. The Chinese team is almost as big as theAmerican. It goes on for ever. All round the stadium, people arewaving the China flag. And lighting their red torches. And chantingChina China. I’m looking forward to these games, if they meanthis much to the locals, they are going to be something toremember…
16.09pm Calm down, calm down...
Here come the Aussies. Then it’s Zambia, then China. Thecrowd think they’ve seen the Chinese flag and are cheeringwildly. Turn down the volume on your telly. This could get loud.
16.05pm Why can't we be friends...
A competitor marching for Senegal has just unfurled a banner.Here’s excitement. Is it a protest? Is he supporting theDalai Lama? Is he complaining about the smog? No, it reads“amite d’abord, competition ensuite” - friendshipfirst, competition to follow. Very bland. Still, those snipers onthe roofline can dip their barrels…
15.58pm Federer dresses down...
The flame cauldron has just appeared. It is perched on the roof ofthe stadium and is absolutely huge. Not even Yao Ming, the sevenfoot six inch local basketball player, could slam dunk a torch upthere. So get ready for a spectacular.
Here’s a nice touch, Roger Federer is carrying the Swissflag. And he’s wearing Bermuda shorts. What happened to thathandsome blazer and trouser combination he sported at Wimbledon?
15.45pm Memories of Euro '96...
The Colombians are having to be told to keep inside the whitelines, while the Dutch are conforming to type: the black athleteshave formed little gaggles well away from the others. It’slike the dressing room at Euro 96 all over again.
15.35pm Americans larger than life...
Kazakhstan are wearing virulent orange skirts, bought perhaps in ajob lot from Easyjet, while the US team behind them have LopezLamond, a refugee from Sudan, carrying their flag. It’swhat’s known as a political statement. But the hostsdon’t seem to have noticed the subtle dig at Chinese foreignpolicy, they’re cheering anyway. But then they have yet tosee those caps the Americans are wearing. It makes them all looklike golf club members from Augusta. Even the badass boys from thebasketball dream team look a tad emasculated in them. The Americanteam is so huge, incidentally, it fills up almost an entirecircuit. Which isn't bad as none of the swimmers are there. Thoughthat may be because they’ve thinned down into single file atthe back. Which might be regarded as cheating.
15.20pm Here come the Brits...
I can see the flag. Great Britain are arriving behind Latvia. Theannouncement of the name gets a polite ripple of applause. Thetelevision cameras give us a fleeting glimpse of Princess Anne onher feet in the IOC section. Shame she can’t cheer on herdaughter, Zara, whose horse was injured before proceedings and hadto drop out. That’s the swimmer Mark Foster carrying theflag. He’s been around for five of these performances, so hemust know the ropes. He looks splendid, with his mahogany tan,marching a good few dozen yards ahead of the rest. Behind himeveryone appears to be dressed like bank clerks in outfits bestdescribed as nondescript. Particularly compared to the jazzyoutfits worn by the British Virgin Island team behind them.
There are no cyclists, or yachties or equestrian types among theBritish marchers, they are all engaged elsewhere. We’ll seethem at the closing ceremony, maybe decorated with medals. Butyoung Tom Daley is out there. As with everything he does, the14-year-old diver looks significantly more mature than many of thecompetitors twice his age. Particularly the Spaniards.
Your View: Grace in Tokyo says: "Great commentary Jim. Don't worry aboutthose who lack a discerning Irish or British sense of humour; yourwit is lost on them. I'm really enjoying your observations."
15.04pm Easy on the eye...
The bloke from the Guardian has just pointed out that the flagcarrier from Jordan is significantly more comely than Jordanherself. But we’re not going to let this blog descend into acatalogue of that kind of sexist nonsense. Certainly not while thefemale athletes from Iceland are in binocular range…
14.58pm Spaniards hold up procession...
The Spaniards have broken ranks at the sight of a Spanish TVcamera. A big group of them have jogged over and are dancing andcavorting in front of it. Funny, should they win a gold medal,they’ll all be complaining about media intrusion.
Look, this is getting out of hand, the Spaniards have turned theprocession into Sunday night on the Ramblas. They’ve nowcaused a traffic jam. Bermuda behind them have had to ground to ahalt. You know they’re Bermuda because, yes, they’rewearing shorts…
14.50pm If Team GB fail, there's always...
There’s an awful lot of Canadians, as you would expect, ahuge number from the current world sporting champions, Spain, andonly a handful from St Vincent. But they look, in their panamahats, as if out for a gentle Friday evening promenade.There’s nine of them, they’re all middle aged andthey’re very very relaxed. I wonder what they are competingin? I now want them to win.
14.45pm Call me on my mobile...
The Indians look very splendid, in their saris and Nehru jackets.Though the elegance cut of their jib is somewhat spoiled by one oftheir party chatting away on his mobile as he marches. “Yes,yes, that’s me. Behind Belarus. What? I know, something to dowith the Mandarin alphabet…”
14.40pm Andy Murray's chomping at the bit...
There’s a lot of waiting around for these athletes beforethey get their moment of marching. They had to be in positionbefore the fireworks were even fused. Andy and Jamie Murray,marching with the British team, had to be out there beside thestadium at seven o’clock, two and a bit hours ago. Andthey’ve still not been called. No wonder those athletescompeting tomorrow like Michael Phelps didn’t wish to be partof this. Still, they are missing out. This will be remembered for along time as the new benchmark of opening ceremonies. London betterstart recruiting morris dancers now.
14.36pm Apologies...
Oh no, hang on, that was Palestine. Ooh, bit political there, asBen Elton used to say…
14.35pm Know thy neighbour...
Brazil have just come in after Papua New Guinea and before Paraguayand Bahrain. And the band are playing Over the Sea to Skye. Phew.The only person who doesn’t look confused in the VIP sectionis George W. Perhaps that list entirely tallies with his knowledgeof geography.
Pakistan just got a big cheer. Maybe for the crowd this is a giantgame of greet the neighbours.
14.25pm There's still a long way to go...
Once they’ve done a single circuit of the arena, the athletesenter a sort of traffic grid made up of lithe looking dancers whoare jiggling and prancing excitedly. Do they realise they have gotto keep this up for an hour and 50 minutes? And have the dopetesters been informed? It’s a complicated manoeuvre to arrivein position, the Greeks haven’t yet got there, they are stillmarching around a good 20 minutes after first appearing. ChineseTaipei have just earned themselves a terrific cheer as they emergeinto the stadium, which was, in the words of that bloke from theFast Show, nice…
Your View: Matt Paterson: "It's nice to see a bit of tongue in cheek humour.Much better than the Beijing Broadcasting Coporation's coverage."
14.12pm First up - it's Greece...
They look very happy. Apparently news has just reached them thatfacilities in Athens have now been completed and are ready to hostthe games. Very confusingly for us, the alphabetical order isMandarin, so Turkey are following Guinea-Bissau. And the CaymanIslands leading out Bhutan. Mind, that’s not as confusing asthe music playing right now. It’s “Flower ofScotland.” Oh right, I see why. There are five orchestrasfrom around the world providing the music and the Mains of FintryPipe Band are one of them. They are a 12 piece and they come fromDundee. And it’s lovely to hear from them….
Your View: Annie Yu: "Everything you have written are either negative, or arevery very prejudiced. Just to point out a few points. Please checkthe time when the Guttenburg was invented, and check at the timewhen the Movable Type Printer was invented. The show of thedisciples of Confucius. You might think they're "goose-stepping",but have you even considered how much effort and time they have putinto it? Let's see you put 3000 people together like that and makeit nearly as perfect.
14.12pm Let me introduce...
And now here they come, the people who really count in all this. Nonot the IOC delegates. Or George Bush's bodyguards. The athletes,marching in waving and gawping. There will be no Brunei Darussaiamout there, however. The country was excluded from participatingonly moments before the ceremony began after failing to registerany athletes for the competition. Is that because the countrydidn’t have any athletes? Or was it an administrative error,and in fact there’s a whole team of them out there on thewrong side of security, with their flag, unable to gain entrybecause they don’t have the right documentation. Sadly, wewill never know.
Your View: Scott P: "I think the coverage this morning is fabulous. I woke upand expected to just look at pics and read boring commentary untilI thankfully came across the Telegraph site. Jim's view ishilarious, including the commment about our equally hilariouspresident's short attention span, and has made my morning moreenjoyable. Thanks and keep it up!
14.08pm London beware...
Blimey, now that’s what you call a firework. Now the Chinesereally did invent these. And that marks the end of the formalentertainment. London you really better get working. Frankly, CliffRichard duetting with Vera Lynn really won’t compete withthis…
Your view: Lawrence Muhammed: "I'm watching the ceremony online - yes i'm inAmerica, the networks don't own the net. Your negative views aboutthe event is no way a representation of the art and powerfuldisplay of the Chinese people. No where in the western world woulda show like this be possible. It is the most amazing thing i haveseen and display of technology and human performance."
14.05pm George W joins in with the fun
Things have gone a bit dreamy now. A giant papier mache globe hasemerged from the bowels of the arena, lots of acrobats are swishingaround on high wires and in the crowd everyone is adding to thespectacle by waving their multi-coloured torches around. Except inthe VIP section, which remains resolutely dark. Gone on George,light up your torch. Join in the fun. Actually a camera flash hasjust gone off in there. Must have been Nicolas Sarkozy gatheringvisual evidence to reinforce his complaint about being put right atthe back next to the IOC delegate from Burkina Faso.
14.00pm Moving on...
Nature now. And a lot of birdsong. Not sure where they recordedthat locally. In just over a week, the only feathered thingI’ve seen is a pigeon. And he looked as if he was not longfor this world. As with everything though, it’s wonderful andterribly well choreographed. As I write, there are about 400martial artists all dressed in white suits and white shoesstrutting their stuff. They look a bit like the annual reunion ofthe cruise ship stewards association. I wonder if John Prescott isdown there?
Your view ...Doesn't look like Marcos Bong agrees with Jim:
"Your political views are very obvious and quite valid even if theyare not expressed. But all the sarcastic and jaded comments cannotin any way diminish what is a fantastic and almost unbelievablespectacle that the Chinese have put on for the opening ceremony. Doi detect a large element of jealousy? Do make sure to remember allyour sarcastic comments as they will certainly be needed for theEnglish attempt at an Olympic ceremony in a few years. The words"gray" and "sodden" come to mind in anticipation of what willundoubtedly be your pathetic effort in London."
13.45pm Lime green pyjamas, it has to be launch night...
That’s Lang Lang, the brilliant concert pianist, down there,tinkling the ivories, accompanied by a five year old helper andsurrounded by about two thousand dancers in lime green pyjamas. Youjust wouldn’t see that anywhere else but in an Olympicopening ceremony, now would you? Oh and look, they've all gonespangly now. Apart form one guy whose trousers won't illuminate.Poor fellow, he's doing his best to find the wire. But no, theywon't switch on. Oh dear. That's his hopes of advancement down thepan.
13.40pm Graham Norton's curtains...
Music now and a celebration of Kunshan, which has been played for4,000 years in these parts. Apparently, along with paper, theprinting press and gangs of oarsmen, they invented music in China.Next they’ll be claiming they invented the Olympic Games.Rather like the skirts those singers are wearing, mind. Does GrahamNorton realise someone’s pinched his curtains?
13.35pm Memories of Sir Steve
Sorry, switched off for a moment there during the Chinese operabit. Now we’re celebrating the silk road, with a lot ofpaddling acrobats swinging giant flags around to represent oars. Aswith everything, this has been rehearsed to within an inch of itslife and is truly splendid. Really, I have not seen anything thatwell co-ordinated using a blade since Steve Redgrave won thecoxless fours at Sydney.
13.24pm Are you paying attention at the back?
Now we are in the midst of a celebration of moveable type printing.Try to stay awake at the back there. A lot of boxes are being movedaround in the centre of the arena. Like everything else it ismighty impressive but might be historically misleading. Accordingto the programme, moveable type was invented in China. SoGuttenberg was an impostor then. The chap from the Guardian next tome has just suggested we need a few more fireworks. Stillcan’t find that firework button…
13.20pm Taking a time out
After a rather lengthy and – let’s be honest here– dull tableau involving the discovery pf paper (threeacrobats squirmed about on a huge canvas and, as they squirmedpainted a picture which was then suspended up in the stadium roof)a bunch of shouting chaps in long cloaks have marched into thearena. They appear to be goose-stepping. Eeek. They are apparentlythe “three thousand disciples of Confusius.” Confuciushe say I’m just slipping out for a comfort break…
13.14pm Bring on the kids...
A bunch of kids representing all 57 different ethnicities in China(you can bet the lad from Tibet was thrilled to get the call) arebringing out a Chinese flag. Here comes the national anthem. Youmay be hearing rather a lot of this over the next fortnight.
Somehow, now it has been raised up the pole, the Chinese flag isflapping vigorously in what appears to be a brisk breeze. Maybesomeone could point some of it in my direction. Meanwhile, morefireworks. I really must find the firework setting on mycamera…
13.10pm Lighting up the world
A series of 29 colossal firework footprints are marching across thesky along the central Olympic avenue from the green into thenational stadium. Like the rest of the world, those of us in thestadium are following their progress on television. Oh, hang on,one is just about to step into the stadium. Now I know how an antfeels.
These symbolise gunpowder, which, according to the officialprogramme, was one of the four great inventions of modern China.Its discovery was, apparently, “one of the outstandingachievements of human civilisation”. Along, presumably, withthe invention of the AK47 and the shoulder held rocket launcher.
Now the footprints are now changing, bursting into stars which formup the Olympic rings. It is very symbolic. Deeply symbolic. I'vejust tried to take a picture on my camera, but sadly the imagedoesn’t do this justice.
13.05pm Guy Fawkes night
After an incredible 10-9-8 countdown involving more fireworks thanare exploded in Britain on Guy Fawkes night, now the fou men areshouting and chanting and beating their drums. I’ve not seenanything this co-ordinated and scary since the Istanbul footballderby. We can safely assume they mean it. Get to your tellies andwatch this. You certainly won’t see anything like it inLondon in four years time.
12.58pm Better than Athens
It has started. The band is playing, the crowd is clapping andPresident Hu has taken his place in the royal box. Except in Chinait is known as the Party Box.
Everyone in the box has a giant fan. George Bush is sitting next toVladimir Putin. It is not yet clear what the protocol is about whofans who.
Actually the seventeen rows of laundrymen turn out not to belaundrymen at all. They are about to address their fou. The fou isancient Chinese percussion instruments, which, when played in massformation sounds like thunder. Either that or it is actuallythundering. Each fou is being lit separately, in rhythm to theirdrumming. Right now the lights are flashing so bright someone oughtto issue a strobe lighting warning. Wow. Already this is betterthan they managed at Athens.
12.50pm Gladiator ready!
As the masters and mistresses of ceremonies finish their turn,several hundred men wheeling what appear to be laundry baskets havefilled the arena floor. I wonder if my trousers, which somehow thevolunteers who run the media village launderette contrived to loseovernight, are down there somewhere? In serried ranks, beautifullymarshalled, they look very impressive, if not a little ominous. Infact it looks a bit like the scene at the start of Gladiator whenRussell Crowe has lined his troops up in the woods and is about tounleash hell.
12.45pm Listen up George W
We are being instructed how to use the contents of ourparticipation bag. Five identikit television presenters, who lookas though they might be about to announce the votes from theUzbekistan jury in the Eurovision song contest, have come into anarena cleared of dancers and tumblers, to tell us what to wave andwhen. Roughly we have to wave our flags, shake our hankies andlight our torches. In case anyone misses the point, the directionsare going up in several languages on the big screen. Some of theinstructions are basic. Remember: do not wave the flag and thetorch at the same time, one reads. George W Bush is not yet in hisseat, however, so they may need to repeat the directions later.
12.30pm A word about the stadium
From the outside its tangled steel bird’s nest constructionis astonishing, one of the architectural wonders of the modernsporting world, and visible from at least three feet away instandard Beijing fug. It feels solid, too. A colleague and I gaveone of the huge supporting struts a crisp rap with the knuckles onthe way in and there is nothing hollow about it. Inside, though,things are visually less dramatic. It has the same three-tieredlook of Wembley, the red plastic seats are reminiscent of theEmirates, the roof might be the inspiration for the new coveringacross Wimbledon’s centre court. This is what you might callsporting globalisation. Like the British high street, everywhere inthe sporting world is beginning to look the same.
12.15pm: The numbers game...
On the desk of each media representative is a sheet of paperdetailing some of the numbers of the opening ceremony. We canexpect, apparently, 15,153 different types of costume, 600 staffsupporting the fireworks programme and 179,400 bottled drinks to besold in the stadium. Well, here are a couple of other numbers aboutChina that are not listed. In any single day in this vast country22,000 couples are married, 44,000 babies born, 1.6 million pigsare eaten and 24 million chicken meet a deep fried end. Plus, rightnow, about 250 western journalists are on the point of expiringfrom the heat.
12.00pm: Beijing or a November-day in Clacton?
Apparently there is an hour and a quarter of this warm up stuff. Inwhich case the tumblers and dancers are going to get very warm. Theweather isn’t what the organisers had hoped for. A grey pallhangs over the Olympic Park (think Clacton in November, except withthe heat turned up to eleven). It is so humid, I’m already onmy third shirt of the day and all I’ve done is walk into thestadium. So goodness knows how the bloke down there on the runningtrack dressed in silk pyjamas climbing to the top of a seven-storeyhigh human pyramid must be feeling. I’d rather not be doingthe laundry.
The track and centre field are covered by a vast grey tarpaulin. Atleast I assume it’s grey. It might be a huge reflective padwhich is merely mirroring the colour of the sky. They were hopingfor something azure, but have got instead a tone which the Osborneand Little catalogue would describe as shadow. Dark, grey shadow.
11.30am: Warming up for the main event
An hour and a half before kick off at the opening ceremony of the29th Olympic Games here in Beijing and down there in the arenaalready I have seen the following: a tumbling dragon, a troupe ofchild acrobats and a collection of stilt walkers dressed in greenchiffon. It could be a long evening.
This, it turns out, is not a last minute rehearsal. It is just thepre-match entertainment provided by the Arts Academy of GuizhouUniversity and the Stilt Yangge Dance of Haicheng. Poor things,they’ve planned and rehearsed and dreamed about this momentfor three years and here they are strutting their stuff in front ofa stadium empty save for a few hundred over-eager journalists.
Still, it promises to be some event. On each seat is anethically-sourced, re-cyclable carrier filled with of audienceparticipation props. Never mind a square of coloured paper to holdup, this is an entire kit bag. In mine is a flag, a large decoratedhandkerchief, a little drum on a stick with two dangly bits thatstrike the surface when you twist it in your hand, what appears tobe a large sheet of plastic and – this is the exciting bit– a replica Olympic torch which glows in several colours. I'mready to play my part...