Beijing 2022 Ceremonies

[munichfan]

6 minutes ago, Ikarus360 said:

Because the firework show totally doesn't pollute the sky more than a cauldron, right?

They literally cleared whole mountainsides off their forests, built a whole high-speed train line to nowhere and turned innumerable tons of steel and concrete into venues nobody will never use again after these games.

But they power it with solar energy, so by Chinese logic this is a "climate-positive" and "sustainable" event.

[AustralianFan]

Munichfan posted this week in the Cauldron thread a google earth image of the Birds Nest Stadium which was excellent.  

This morning here are a couple more images from google earth and looks the same.

Is that an ice skating rink on the stadium floor?

There is also a hinge on that side-ramp ….

[LA1984]

52 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

Munichfan posted this week in the Cauldron thread a google earth image of the Birds Nest Stadium which was excellent.  

This morning here are a couple more images from google earth and looks the same.

Is that an ice skating rink on the stadium floor?

There is also a hinge on that side-ramp ….

I bet it's for projection, but an actual ice surface would be amazing. The hinge reminds me a bit of the ramp during the Atlanta ceremony where the athletes entered the stadium, or maybe it's simply hiding the cauldron.

[AustralianFan]

Just now, LA1984 said:

I bet it's for projection, but an actual ice surface would be amazing. The hinge reminds me a bit of the ramp during the Atlanta ceremony where the athletes entered the stadium, or maybe it's simply hiding the cauldron.

yes I was thinking of Atlanta too.  

If it is an icerink, it should be able to double as a projection surface as well without too much trouble (?)

[PikyoK]

It's funny because the Youtube live stream is not available here in Australia.

 

[Nacholympic]

Zhang Yimou spoke… and talked about about some hints of the Opening Ceremony… Guys… I knew that!!!
 

Covid attacks again… Another “simple” ceremony

 "Simple, safe and splendid" Games, the opening ceremony will observe the same principle, according to Zhang.

 

No mass performances

There will not be large-scale performance that stretch for a long time. The number of performers is cut from 15,000 in 2008 to 3,000, with length shorted to less than 100 minutes due to cold weather and the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Small cauldron:

He hinted that the design was in line with the concept of environmental protection and low carbon emission, but refused to give more clues, saying "it's a secret."

 

He promises a new way to light the cauldron, as we have never seen before:

"This time the way of lighting will certainly be different. It's a major reform of this opening ceremony. It will be unprecedented in the over 100-year history of the Olympic Games,"

 

Here the full article:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202201/08/WS61d8d47ba310cdd39bc7fd5c.html

 

 

Not surprising for me at all… I totally expected that. The way of making ceremonies has changed forever…

What are your predictions after reading his words?

 

[PikyoK]

https://www.beijing2022.cn/wog.htm?cmsid=20220107023747

I found a video in the link above with some information that may have been aforementioned in the chat. According to the web page and this video, the ceremony will last less than 100 minutes (I don't know if he was referring to the artistic programme or the entire ceremony). It will be very interesting to see how he will make the long Parade of Nations fit in if he is referring to the duration of the entire Opening Ceremony.

I'm not quite sure if he's having us on because one of the main reasons why he wants to make it short is because the weather is cold. While I accept the fact that Covid could be another reason for the short ceremony I think Beijing is in a better situation than what Pyeongchang had to endure four years ago. The Beijing stadium surely has ventilation and heaters to warm the spectators while Pyeongchang had to install windbreakers in the stadium design as well as prepare additional items like hot packs for the spectator's hands. 

I feel as though Zhang will still deliver a spectacular display like Sochi but I don't think it will be as grand like what we saw in 2008. It will be very interesting to see him picture the 'inner thoughts of the Chinese people' while putting on a scaled back, simple and splendid showcase. A lot of Winter and Summer Games in the past have delivered simple but splendid showcases like Nagano, Athens and most recently Tokyo so I would love to see how Beijing will follow suit. 

I'd love to see how he will include people participation like what he says in the video. 

Apparently from one of the title cards in the video, the theme is "From Me to We". 

I'd like to rehash what Ikarus posted back in 2020 about how the ceremonies will celebrate Chinese New Year so I'd like to see how they will incorporate themes and motifs that relate to the Lunar New Year Celebrations since the festivities coincide with the Winter Olympics.

It's interesting how he says epidemic rather than pandemic like the rest of the world uses when mentioning Covid.

I smirked when Zhang stated that the Chinese people's thoughts he wanted to show included pride, love and affection to the whole world. I then thought 'Oh yeah, you want to show that yet your country treat minorities and neighbouring countries like s**t and your government keeps threatening the West with your propaganda!

Finally in the video, he stated that the cauldron and the lighting of the cauldron will be based off of Chinese culture and history which is quite acceptable given that many cauldrons in the past include motifs from the host nation's culture like Pyeongchang with the white porcelain spherical bowl, Tokyo with Mt. Fuji being the base of the cauldron, and Athens with a giant thin olive leaf which of course was the symbol of peace and of Athens. 

Overall, I'm looking forward to seeing this Opening Ceremony in action despite the controversies China has faced in the recent years and the ideas that Zhang has revealed in the video.

 

 

[AustralianFan]

 

xx

13 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Just in …..

Zhang Yimou named as chief director of thr Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremony - 7Jan22 - Inside The Games

“Zhang Yimou directed the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and is also overseeing the Beijing 2022 Ceremonies.”

“Chinese media reported Zhang is working with a crew of "high-profile consultants" and will also take overall responsibility for the Closing Ceremony and Paralympic Ceremonies.”

"It is a great honour to direct the Opening Ceremony for the second time," Zhang told the Xinhua News Agency.

"The burden is very heavy. Of course we know we cannot repeat Beijing 2008, so we are striving to be different from it," he admitted.

“Only 3,000 are expected to take part, in contrast to 2008, which had a cast of 15,000, including 2,008 drummers at the start of the Ceremony.”

 

12 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

…. and more on this from the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong:

On Opening Ceremony Director, Zhang Yimou:  

“The Oscar-nominated director of Raise the Red Lantern, Hero and The House of Flying Daggers is leading a team to design the show. Zhang also directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.”

“Rehearsals are under way for the pared down ceremony, without the large-scale artistic performances that marked the 2008 programme, state television said.”

“Rather, technology will be used to make the opening ceremony “ethereal and romantic”, state television quoted Zhang as saying.”

Beijing 2022: Zhang Yimou to direct Winter Olympics opening ceremony - 8Jan22 - South China Morning Post

 

12 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Some more previously unreported comments from the Beijing 2022 Opening Ceremony Chief Director, Zhang Yimou:

“The opening ceremony will also be of a mass character, with some performers coming from schools and grassroots arts groups. Representatives of all works of life will be part of the ceremonial activities.”

"I think the expressions of happiness, health, spirit, self-confidence and inspiration are very important. We also emphasize participation in many ways this time," Zhang said.

“The chief director mentioned that COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in the world and China is faced with a new and complicated international situation. That's why he hoped to present genuine thoughts of the Chinese people through the Olympic stage.”

"What the Winter Olympics show is the Chinese people's confidence, pride, love and affection for the people of the world - our great philosophy and values.”

"If we can showcase that in an artistic, emotional, and subtle way through the Olympic opening ceremony, so that people can see the real inner thoughts of Chinese people, that will be very meaningful," he concluded.

Interview: Beijing 2022 opening ceremony will be historic, says chief director Zhang Yimou - 7Jan22 - Xinhua.net

 

3 hours ago, Nacholympic said:

Zhang Yimou spoke… and talked about about some hints of the Opening Ceremony… Guys… I knew that!!!

Covid attacks again… Another “simple” ceremony

 "Simple, safe and splendid" Games, the opening ceremony will observe the same principle, according to Zhang.

 

.. actually, this was reported in this thread in several posts about 12 hrs ago previous to your post .

But continuing on from when this news broke, I think there will still be a stunning beautiful ceremony and while not on the same massive scale as the Beijing 2008 OC, 3,000 performers will still be capable of a mass performance element.

So he said that there won’t be the large-scale mass performances, but he didn’t say there wouldn’t be a mass display at all.  

I’m wondering if there will be 3,000 performers on a stadium floor ice rink because what we are seeing now as a “white projection” screen across the stadium floor from the Google Earth images from space could also actually be an ice-rink which could double as a projection medium.  

If it is an ice-rink, then what a stunning Opening Ceremony it will be just from looking at the gigantic dinensions of this mega-ice rink.

Even one third of 3,000 ice skaters in costume, ie 1,000 per segment will look gob-smackingly good.

A bit like Disney-On-Ice on steroids.

 

[AustralianFan]

 

Actually, there appears to be a solid white square section in the middle of the white stadium oblong which could be the central square solid ice section, (circled below) as the rounded ends of the white oblong are actually transparent.

That would suggest that the whole oblong white shape on the stadium floor is capable of projected images with actual ice-skating capability in the “central performance ice square”.

This would be in keeping with some recent Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies, which had some form of central ice rink space for artistic ice dance performances.

I could be wrong and there may not be an ice rink  in there somewhere ……  but my money’s on that there is an ice rink in the stadium as we look at it now …

Imagine it, a mass group of say 500 skaters lit up in gold lights and swirling around and forming the Olympic Rings on the stadium floor

[Bear]

Looks like CCTV aired the interview and non-spoiler behind the scenes footage (do be advised it's 100% in Mandarin) -

 

[Bear]

如此简约 如何精彩？——独家专访双奥开闭幕式总导演张艺谋 (beijing2022.cn)

Most of the article repeats what we now know, but there is a new piece of info -

Quote

四、谈压力：经典难复制 互联网“生死立判”

2008年奥运会开幕式一直备受好评。珠玉在前，怎么做出不一样的开幕式？

张艺谋坦率地说：“经典是不可复制的，它就只有一次。所以对我来说最重要的是，要放下这个包袱。时代不一样，冬奥和夏奥不一样。这就是你要面对的。”

这次也有致敬08的部分。他透露，在闭幕式的一个环节中，会有2008年一个瞬间的物理重现，而不仅是视频的重现。

The last paragraph translates to "This time there is also a tribute to 08. He revealed that, in a segment of the closing ceremony, there will be a physical reenactment of a moment in 2008, not just a video reenactment."

Any guesses on what this moment could be?

[munichfan]

2 minutes ago, Bear said:

Any guesses on what this moment could be?

Lip-sync girl as a grown up?

[AustralianFan]

34 minutes ago, Bear said:

Looks like CCTV aired the interview and non-spoiler behind the scenes footage (do be advised it's 100% in Mandarin) -

 

Excellent, thanks Bear for sharing.

Does anyone know what these towers are near the Birds Nest Stadium?
 

[AustralianFan]

34 minutes ago, Bear said:

Looks like CCTV aired the interview and non-spoiler behind the scenes footage (do be advised it's 100% in Mandarin) -

 

Excellent, thanks Bear for sharing.

Does anyone know what these towers are near the Birds Nest Stadium?
 

[AustralianFan]

34 minutes ago, Bear said:

Looks like CCTV aired the interview and non-spoiler behind the scenes footage (do be advised it's 100% in Mandarin) -

 

Excellent, thanks Bear for sharing.

Does anyone know what these towers are near the Birds Nest Stadium?
 

[AustralianFan]

whoops, will try and rectify this unintended repeat posts

[Bear]

1 minute ago, AustralianFan said:

Excellent, thanks Bear for sharing.

Does anyone know what these towers are near the Birds Nest Stadium?
 

That would be the Beijing Olympic Tower - Beijing Olympic Tower - Wikipedia

[AustralianFan]

13 minutes ago, Bear said:

That would be the Beijing Olympic Tower - Beijing Olympic Tower - Wikipedia

excellent, thanks mate.

do you happen to know how to edit a post on gamesbids.com ?      i'm trying to delete or edit the repeated posts above and never edited a post before.  i'm on an ipad

[Bear]

1 minute ago, AustralianFan said:

excellent, thanks mate.

do you happen to know how to edit a post on gamesbids.com ?      i'm trying to delete or edit the repeated posts above and never edited a post before.  i'm on an ipad

i think it's a feature only available for premium users

[AustralianFan]

1 minute ago, Bear said:

i think it's a feature only available for premium users

aah, ok cool. thanks anyway

[AustralianFan]

6 hours ago, PikyoK said:

https://www.beijing2022.cn/wog.htm?cmsid=20220107023747

I found a video in the link above with some information that may have been aforementioned in the chat. According to the web page and this video, the ceremony will last less than 100 minutes (I don't know if he was referring to the artistic programme or the entire ceremony). It will be very interesting to see how he will make the long Parade of Nations fit in if he is referring to the duration of the entire Opening Ceremony.

I'm not quite sure if he's having us on because one of the main reasons why he wants to make it short is because the weather is cold. While I accept the fact that Covid could be another reason for the short ceremony I think Beijing is in a better situation than what Pyeongchang had to endure four years ago. The Beijing stadium surely has ventilation and heaters to warm the spectators while Pyeongchang had to install windbreakers in the stadium design as well as prepare additional items like hot packs for the spectator's hands. 

I feel as though Zhang will still deliver a spectacular display like Sochi but I don't think it will be as grand like what we saw in 2008. It will be very interesting to see him picture the 'inner thoughts of the Chinese people' while putting on a scaled back, simple and splendid showcase. A lot of Winter and Summer Games in the past have delivered simple but splendid showcases like Nagano, Athens and most recently Tokyo so I would love to see how Beijing will follow suit. 

I'd love to see how he will include people participation like what he says in the video. 

Apparently from one of the title cards in the video, the theme is "From Me to We". 

I'd like to rehash what Ikarus posted back in 2020 about how the ceremonies will celebrate Chinese New Year so I'd like to see how they will incorporate themes and motifs that relate to the Lunar New Year Celebrations since the festivities coincide with the Winter Olympics.

It's interesting how he says epidemic rather than pandemic like the rest of the world uses when mentioning Covid.

I smirked when Zhang stated that the Chinese people's thoughts he wanted to show included pride, love and affection to the whole world. I then thought 'Oh yeah, you want to show that yet your country treat minorities and neighbouring countries like s**t and your government keeps threatening the West with your propaganda!

Finally in the video, he stated that the cauldron and the lighting of the cauldron will be based off of Chinese culture and history which is quite acceptable given that many cauldrons in the past include motifs from the host nation's culture like Pyeongchang with the white porcelain spherical bowl, Tokyo with Mt. Fuji being the base of the cauldron, and Athens with a giant thin olive leaf which of course was the symbol of peace and of Athens. 

Overall, I'm looking forward to seeing this Opening Ceremony in action despite the controversies China has faced in the recent years and the ideas that Zhang has revealed in the video.

 

 

Thanks PikyoK, excellent video with subtitles too.  Very interesting comments too about the “bold” Cauldron which I’ll now post over in the Cauldron thread. 

[PikyoK]

2 hours ago, Bear said:

如此简约 如何精彩？——独家专访双奥开闭幕式总导演张艺谋 (beijing2022.cn)

Most of the article repeats what we now know, but there is a new piece of info -

The last paragraph translates to "This time there is also a tribute to 08. He revealed that, in a segment of the closing ceremony, there will be a physical reenactment of a moment in 2008, not just a video reenactment."

Any guesses on what this moment could be?

I think it may be:

the part after the Olympic Flame extinguishing at the closing ceremony where the tower in the centre of the stadium formed a tree with ribbons and revealed the 2008 logo with people

the drums at the beginning of the Opening ceremony of 2008

the Olympic Rings at the 2008 opening ceremony

the lip-sync girl lol

[Ikarus360]

15 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Munichfan posted this week in the Cauldron thread a google earth image of the Birds Nest Stadium which was excellent.  

This morning here are a couple more images from google earth and looks the same.

Is that an ice skating rink on the stadium floor?

There is also a hinge on that side-ramp ….

They said in the article the stage was finished by October/November so i don't think its going to change much.

If that's a huge Ice Rink then that alone would put this ceremony on a whole different level, and it would be Salt Lake City 2.0. Back in the day I was very impressed by the use of an ice rink in 2002 but I missed the fact that feat was never attempted again in other winter ceremonies. So seeing it done again by China and 20 years later when the technology has changed drastically would some high quality moments.

 

 

[rio2016man]

zhang yimou is such a good vibe

[baron-pierreIV]

22 hours ago, munichfan said:

So... 3,000 performers. That should be about on par with what Sochi had, if I recall that correctly.

You're right.  Sochi used 3K performers for the Opening; 4K for the Closing.