Closing Ceremony of Beijing Olympics

From Beijing to the Big Ben

The first rush is always difficult to live up to in any relationship. Beijing at its closing ceremony came close, but then nothing could have matched the precision and expanse of the opening flush of the XXIX Games.

This was the more laid back side of China, the one less robotic. It was about people. But in an altogether different manner from the clockwork dazzle of the beginning. This was an explosion of spontaneity mingled with conduct through channels that the official nature of such events demands.

The difference, between watching these things on TV and in one’s face, is the leap between technology and the eye. On TV the wide angle gives more to see, but it still does not allow enough to embrace. There it may be Technicolor but here it is colour alive.

The ceremony was psychedelic. There was far too much colour for the eye to explore and it was all far too rich to comprehend in its entirety. It was an orgy spanning the spectrum and then some beyond. There were bits and pieces of the symmetry that made the opening iconic in Olympic history but largely it was too carefree and joyous to be typically Chinese.

The London 2012 part of the show was frankly quite tacky. A double decker bus rolled in which looked nothing like the ones they have in actual and though there was Jimmy Page guitaring Led Zep’s ‘whole lotta love’, David Beckham showing his face and kicking a football, there was really nothing about the exhibition that excited. After this exhibition, London will really have to dig deep to even begin to do a Beijing as far as ceremony extravaganza goes.

With the athletes let out in a rush it became a bit of an ask to figure out the Indian flag. One never really realised that there are so many tricolours across the world with shades so very similar to ours till 203 countries marched out. Thank God for the chakra, or else Vijender Singh threatened to get lost in the multitude of flutter out there.

While a magnitude of other contingents came in shorts and casual Ts it was an aberration to see the Indians in formal coat and pants. Athletes part of the proceedings later told that they felt like overdressed fools out there but then official orders had been issued.

China’s finishing note set the seal on what has been the most spectacular Olympics what with 38 world and 85 Olympic records tumbling. And one has not even begun to talk about the organisational efficiency.

Source : DNA India

 

[rahul_parab2006]

All praise for Beijing Olympics volunteers

BEIJING: The Olympic Games have concluded but the spirit of service will live on in the hearts of many volunteers, who took great pride in their work looking at it as a contribution to history.

"When this Games ends, it's not ending, but a new beginning for many of us," said Li.

While Yao Tingting feels herself as one of the legacies of the dazzling Games.

Yao, a graduate student of human resources management had dreamed of serving as an Olympic volunteer ever since Beijing's won the bid for hosting the Games in 2001.

Her dream was realised when the organisers chose her from millions of applicants to be a volunteer of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

After undergoing some 160 hours of classes over five semesters, in subjects ranging from Olympic history to journalism, Yao and thousands of others at last got their chance to serve during the Beijing Olympics as a professional media volunteer.

Yao said here that her training improved her communication skills and gave her the confidence to interact with journalists from around the world, including India.

Yao was part of the volunteers who were attached to a media delegation from India and other Asian countries which toured Beijing coinciding with the August 8-24 Olympic Games.

"Working with foreign journalists was quite fun," she says.

"You can always offer somebody something, and this kind of giving can make you happy and at the same time there is a lot one can learn from others."

"For many Chinese students, it's the first chance to be volunteers. It's pretty precious and valuable," says Linna Bie, who was a Transportation Desk Assistant during the Olympics.

"Though the work is voluntary, the experience that we gained from working with a range of foreigners is worth the while," Yu Yue, another volunteer, said.

Hong Chen, a volunteer director and physics professor at Tsinghua University, puts the experience in perspective. "Organising work is very tough," she says. "Getting people from different circles working together at the same time is such a challenge."

The Beijing Olympics received more than one million volunteer applications, of which 74,715 were accepted, plus 30,000 for the Paralympic Games to be held in September.

However, Zhang Juming, deputy director of the Volunteer Work Department of the Organising Committee for the Beijing Olympic Games, says that 1 million people in fact volunteered services in various fields, including medical, traffic and security assistance.

That's the equivalent of the entire population of Guatemala helping to run a sporting event.

Zhang thinks volunteerism will be one of the most powerful legacies of the Beijing Olympics.

"The Games will foster an attitude of mass participation and long-term growth of the volunteer mentality in China," he said.

Due to the experience of managing the Olympic volunteer programme, he believes that China will be able to run more volunteer initiatives in the future.

Many Chinese Olympic volunteers took great pride in their work and their contribution to history.

"Without the volunteers, there could be no great Olympics," says Ding Yan. "Maybe it's the biggest ever event in China, and maybe the biggest event of my lifetime."

Chen Jing sees her volunteer job as a win-win situation. "On the one hand I can serve the country," she explains.

"And on the other hand I can improve myself through inner evaluation and inner improvement," she said.

Source : DNA India