BEIJING: As promised Friday, the People’s Republic of China loudly marched onto the world stage and gloriously linked hands with the world.
It became official when 90,000 Chinese fans did the wave.
During a Summer Olympics opening ceremony filled with flying fairies, dancing light bulbs, and enough fireworks to stock every roadside shack in Tennessee, the most dazzling part was the Chinese people themselves.
In a thumping lecture that honored China’s rich history through its technological present — complete with a torch lighting by a gold-medal gymnast who floated across the top of National Stadium — the government provided the bells and whistles.
But it was the fans who added the humanity.
In sweltering, simmering 90-degree heat that turned the Bird’s Nest into a wok, thousands nonetheless chirped gratefully at everything from confusing dances to rival countries. They waved their Chinese flags at everyone, they flashed their decorative flashlights during every moment of darkness, and gasped in delight at every twist.
And, well, yeah, they even roared for Kobe Bryant.
The highlight occurred at the end of the athlete’s march, with the appearance of the Chinese team led by basketball flag bearer Yao Ming and a young boy.
The fans erupted in what may be the longest standing ovation in sports history, 13 minutes strong, everyone rhythmically waving their flags and chanting “Jia You,” which loosely translates to “Go for it,” which is exactly what they did. While stories of government oppression dominated the days leading up to these Games, it was the simple pleasure of its citizens that stole the show.For these Olympics to work, it has to stay that way.
For the world to put aside its distaste for China’s human rights record and believe in these Games, these Games will first have to believe in themselves.
Only through the people of China can this happen. So far, they are off to a good start, partying even as their government is preaching.
Certainly, the show on the stadium floor was well-staged and precisely executed. But, you know, it just wasn’t much fun.
Yes, there were 2,008 drummers pounding an ancient beat, and gymnasts doing cartwheels across a giant globe, and the five Olympic rings rising mysteriously into the sky in the form of tiny lights.
Indeed, it was neat to see hundreds of men flickering like Christmas trees, and colorfully dressed women flying through the air on strings, and, of course, 1984 Olympic gymnastic hero Li Ning reminding Los Angeles folks of his greatness by lighting the torch in midair. But, unlike opening ceremonies in recent years, it lacked real smiles, true laughter, visible heart. This is a show that could have used an artistic adviser like, say, Steven Spielberg.
Oh, wait, the director was actually supposed to work on the show until withdrawing his name in protest of the country’s support of the Sudan’s policies in Darfur.
In a final bit of staged drama at the end of Friday’s ceremony, the Chinese and Olympic flags both whipped wildly in what seemed to be a strong breeze.
However, in every other corner of the stadium, the air stood still, with even the fans sitting directly below the flags still furiously fanning themselves.
The overwhelming memories of Friday, then, will not be of the electricity on the field, but in the eyes and voices of those in the stands.
Rarely have fans cheered so loudly for rival nations. Rarely have fans gasped so often in glee. They cheered Mongolia even amid reports that the government has banned Mongolians from bars.
They cheered Chinese Taipei even as though their government is not always friendly toward it.
The theme of these Olympics is “One World, One Dream,” and, for one night, that world belonged to the Chinese people. The dream is that, for the next two weeks, against oppressive odds, they can somehow keep it.
