THE CLOSING CEREMONY AT BEIJING 2008

The Dragon breathes fire and flies
The sixteen day Olympic extravaganza has finally come to an end, and what an end that was! China, the host country put up an excellent show this time, bagging a hundred medals, with the highest total of 51 gold medals, defeating the hot contestant the United States. The closing ceremony though beat all records with a magnificent show of Chinese skill, colours, and foremost their discipline and unity. The thousands of Chinese men and women in yellow, red and grey costumes with tiny lights attached, swayed together to the music. The flying men, the elevated silk strips, the Beijing Olympics logo on the tower, it was all choreographed to perfection. The flag bearers of 204 participating countries marched in, while the athletes poured in from all sides in jubilation. What was remarkable was that the volunteers too were acknowledged with their twelve representatives receiving a bouquet each. The Olympic spirit of higher, faster and stronger was evident, with over thirty world records broken and 85 new Olympics records set.
India’s absence and presence
For those watching the show at home, it was saddening not to be able to spot the Indian flag bearer Vijendar Kumar, the boxing bronze medallist. Nor were any members of the 56 strong Indian contingency to be seen anywhere in the crowd. The Indian presence was felt though through the little girl of Indian origin who received the football from her Chinese counterpart, symbolising the handover of the Olympic Games to UK, to be held in London in 2012. Though the Olympic flag was handed over to London’s Mayor, the exchange which took place in front of the double-decker bus seemed much more important, indicating the strong Indian presence in the UK. With a large minority of Indians, especially Gujarati and Punjabi expatriates, can we expect an Indian presence in the opening and closing ceremonies in London, maybe a bhangra or Bollywood number? In fact Bollywood surprisingly featured in the women’s team rhythmic gymnastics, when the Israelis pirouetted to a song from Om Shanti Om.
UK’s turn
UK showcased their plans for 2012 towards the end of the ceremony. After the exquisite Chinese show, UK’s urban-centric performance seemed a rude shock. It was post-modern, with London’s roads, red double-decker buses, and diverse populace dancing in front. The dark green townscape which emerged from the bus seemed bleak in contrast to the Chinese vibrant red and yellow, while the pop singer and guitarist dishevelled in comparison to the neat, slim Chinese women. London’s logo, showcasing the British flag, had harsh straight lines while the Chinese logo seems drawn with a single stroke. But maybe it’s too early to judge. Let us give the British their four years to prove themselves. Till then, let us rejoice in the Asian domination of the Beijing Olympics 2008.