The eyes of the world were on Beijing Friday night, as China formally opened the 2008 Olympic Games amidst intense security. Without media accreditation or a ticket to the opening ceremony, most Chinese and foreigners alike were restricted from coming closer than a mile of the national stadium, which was protected by thousands of paramilitary officers, road blockades and surface-to-air missiles. Instead, most witnessed the spectacle on a television set, nestled in high-rise apartment buildings or quiet alleyways throughout the city. The relative silence in the old Beijing hutongs and sparkling new subway lines during the broadcast was like a collective breath, held in anticipation and more than a little awe, of seven years of hopes and preparation finally being bequeathed to the world.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics represent numerous things to the many actors involved. To the Chinese government, the Games are a manifestation of national development. To the rest of the world, the environmental and political stakes associated with this Olympic cycle outpace any other in recent memory. Still, to the average Chinese person, the implications vary widely. While to some the Games have brought out intense national pride in their country’s progress, others feel they have fallen between the cracks of the “One World, One Dream” Olympic slogan.
This photo column will offer daily dispatches exploring Beijing during the Olympics. In essence, it is an attempt to capture in pictures and words some of the energy, excitement, and emotion surrounding the Games. As someone who lives in Beijing and has come to love the people and culture of this city, I hope I can capture a cross section of moments creating a rich Olympic atmosphere as life revolves in and around one of the biggest global events of the past decade.
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