NORMAL LIFE: Stunning Start to Beijing 2008

Did anyone see today's absolutely stunning Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing? In a bid to showcase all that China has to offer, no expense was spared, with the most politicised Olympics to date costing an estimate €40billion to stage.

I missed the first thirty minutes which, several people have told me, were the best of the whole event. Looking at online sources, they weren't wrong. The sheer scale of the choreography, said to depict the 5,000 years of Chinese history, followed a firework display containing a reputed 20,000 rockets heading skywards! Blimey! If the sky weren't full of smoke (be it population or humidity-induced), it surely must be now!

A surprising event was the duet between a now-48-year-old (and still looking stunning) Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan, a famous singer in his native China. Titled You & Me, the song captures the spirit of the Olympics - to bring humankind together, regardless of race, gender, religious and political belief.
Listening to the shrill lyrics by the unmistakable Ms. Brightman, the song tied in wonderfully with Beijing's tagline for the olympics: One World, One Dream. It got me thinking about all the latest media surrounding the olympics, and China itself: the Free Tibet movement, the well-publicised pollution, the devestating 7.9 earthquake in Sichuan province, in which more than 40,000 people perished.

Last night, China did alot to dispel alot of the world's preconceptions, but ultimately, the Opening Ceremony served as a useful piece of propoganda to the World. The show, whilst technically brilliant, was a one-off with the One World One Dream thinking behind the games implying that the world could learn from China and vice versa. But I started to think: why should China heed criticism hailing from the rest of the world? After all, what does the United States (pop. 305million) or the European Union (pop. 500million+) known about managing a population in excess of 1.2 billion citizens such as China's? It's worth bearing in mind that, compared to China, the United States and the European Union are densely developed areas whereas China still has a large rural population. What are the magical solutions proposed, rather than just incessant criticism, to help China be a more balanced nation?

Next time someone pisses you off, though, it's worth remember those moving words: You and me, From one world, We are family! And let the games begin! And, London, you have one hell of a show to put on in 2012! Kind of makes the thus far budget of £9billion look measly, doesn't it?!