Modest, tasteful, spectacular, thrilling, welcoming. The opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing can be described with various epithets. The author of these lines tells of the atmosphere off camera, BaigeNews.kz reports
As befits opening ceremonies of events attended by many high-ranking guests, unprecedented security measures were taken in Beijing.
Not only is a “bubble” system in operation throughout the 2022 Winter Games, separating athletes, coaches and journalists from each other and from local residents, but the area around the main media centre and the National Stadium, the “Bird's Nest”, was also cordoned off for two blocks ahead.
The Bird's Nest stadium itself, where the 2022 Olympic opening ceremony was held, made in person the impression of a cosy and quiet stadium. Truly like a soft nest where sounds are muffled, warm and cosy. These sensations somewhat contradict the expectations the author formed after the 2008 Olympic opening ceremony, which he watched on television. As you can see, television has not yet learned to transmit sensations.
Local spectators were brought to the 2022 opening ceremony on special buses. Holders of the “Olympic Family”, “Press”, “Volunteers”, “Athletes” and other accreditations had their own buses. All in the best traditions of the “bubble”.
All spectators were gathered two and a half hours before the start of the ceremony. This is standard practice for such large events attended by heads of state and government (the 2022 Olympic opening ceremony was also attended by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev).
Because of pandemic restrictions journalists had to make a large detour to get from the stadium to the main media centre. On foot one could have gone in a straight line through the Olympic Park, but under the rules the Bird's Nest and the Olympic Park are different “bubbles”, and one can travel between them, by a detour, only by bus. That is why the trip to the ceremony at the Bird's Nest is quite a long journey.
The Kazakhstan team, having taken part in the opening ceremony, marked its first success.
Our team's kit was among the most stylish at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The International Olympic Committee and Forbes also singled out the kits of the Olympians of the USA, Canada, the Russian Olympic Committee, China, Sweden and Germany.
Such a high assessment from international experts is not the first in the history of our team's participation in Olympic opening parades. And that means the National Olympic Committee of Kazakhstan organises the choice of kit design for our country's delegation correctly.
Unlike in the 2008 ceremony, this time China limited itself to a more modest show. But it is no less mesmerising for that.
As at the ceremonies of recent Olympics, Beijing 2022 used projections on the arena and luminous objects, including huge Olympic rings hanging above the arena, flying images of skiers and a giant snowflake. Who could have thought it would be the place for the Olympic flame? Except perhaps the ceremony's director Zhang Yimou.
This time the Olympic flame burns in a small bowl, like a small light of hope that very soon COVID-19, thanks to mutations, will self-destruct or become no more dangerous than a cold for each and every one. And of course the Olympic flame burns in the name of sport and peace.
Long live the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing!
Source: BaigeNews.kz
