CHINA: China says London Olympic opening "a feast for the eyes".

Record ID: 1963617

  • Title: CHINA: China says London Olympic opening "a feast for the eyes".
  • Date: 28th July 2012
  • Summary: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 28, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA) STATE TELEVISION CCTV NEWS BULLETIN BEGINNING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) STATE TELEVISION CCTV NEWS ANCHOR SAYING: "Director Danny Boyle presented to the world a stunning feast for the eyes at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games, with the Queen's parachuting, Mr Bean's funny performance, Lord Voldemort's dreamy appearance, a gathering of so many big stars, green landscape and choirs." BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 28, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK NEWSPAPER STAND NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ABOUT LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES OPENING NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING "2012 LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES KICK OFF WITH A SPECTACULAR OPENING THIS MORNING" IN CHINESE CHINESE CHARACTERS MEANING "ABSOLUTELY ENGLISH AND SPECTACULAR" IN NEWSPAPER HEADLINE (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 16-YEAR-OLD BEIJING RESIDENT GAO MENG SAYING: "I think it is very creative to have the Queen parachuting together with '007' (James Bond), it is very innovative. I think the opening was great." PEOPLE WALKING ON SIDEWALK (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 20-YEAR-OLD BEIJING RESIDENT CHEN YE SAYING: "The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was grander, as it did not only demonstrate the Olympian spirit but also a Chinese history that dates back to thousands of years ago. So I think the Beijing opening was more spectacular." NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING "BRITAIN TO USE THE OLYMPIC GAMES TO PROVE ITSELF" IN CHINESE NEWSPAPER HANGING AT STAND
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  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVACHJ832RO7VB8ZH56T4W1HHI8A
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: China says the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games displays the host country's rich history and sense of humour.
    The opening of the London Olympic Games was a feast for the eyes and displayed the host country's rich history and sense of humour, Chinese state media commented on Saturday (July 28).

    "Director Danny Boyle presented to the world a stunning feast for the eyes at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games, with the Queen's parachuting, Mr Bean's funny performance, Lord Voldemort's dreamy appearance, a gathering of so many big stars, green landscape and choirs," said a news anchor from state television CCTV when reading out a commentary.
    The official Xinhua news agency called the opening a "glittering ceremony" that displayed Britain's rich history and sense of humour.
    Newspapers headlines in Beijing also called the opening "spectacular" and "very English".
    The opening ceremony, costing an estimated 27 million pounds ($42 million), was inspired by William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest", his late-life meditation on age and mortality.
    Although not many residents in Beijing stayed up to watch the show that aired at 4 am local time (2000 GMT) on Saturday, the few who did said it was very creative.

    "I think it is very creative to have the Queen parachuting together with '007' (James Bond), it is very innovative. I think the opening was great," said 16-year-old Gao Meng.
    But for 20-year-old Chen Ye, the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony four years ago was hard to beat.

    "The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games was grander, as it did not only demonstrate the Olympian spirit but also a Chinese history that dates back to thousands of years ago. So I think the Beijing opening was better," said Chen.
    China spent billions of dollars to build state-of-the-art stadiums and prepare for the opening ceremony in 2008, but the London organisers stressed they would not try to rival the no-expense-spared Beijing extravaganza four years ago.
    More than 10,000 athletes from 204 countries will compete in 26 sports over 17 days of competition in the only city to have staged the modern Games three times.
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