7 Things Gone Wrong During The 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony
Posted by Benjamin on 08/10/08 in Featured
Without a word of a doubt, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony was spectacular. It was full of color, artistic performances, outstanding technology and most of all, amazing organization of hundreds and hundreds of live performers.
[See photo coverage here]
It was seriously amazing how everyone performed in sync. However since we’re only human we’re bound to make mistakes. Here’s are 7 things gone wrong during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony.
#1 Movable-Type Print – Moment of Truth
You could have not imaging such an impressive performance to be executed by people. It was so synchronized you’d expect a machine was behind it. This amazing performance was also one of the funniest as you can see someone popped up before everyone else.
#2 The Girl On The Piano
What was wrong with this little girl? She was looking around, then staring straight for a long time, punching the piano keys and she didn’t know what she was doing! She was one of the biggest mistakes because she didn’t need to be there and her presence was annoying. Thankfully she didn’t interrupt the pianist. And she also picked her nose twice.
#3 I See Dead Pixels
One of the most impressive technology at the opening ceremony was the massive LED floor display. It was also very durable considering hundreds of people were actually walking around on it. Eventually some of the panels broke off and hence I saw dead pixels.
#4 Lighting of the Torch
Li Ning who won three gold medals, two silver and one bronze in gymnastics during the 1984 Olympics was the last torch bearer. Once lifted to the top of the dome, he started running in mid air and it looked great. A lot of practice to get his timing perfect as he actually looked like he was running on the wall. However he was going too fast and ended up in front of the scrolling screen.
#5 The Skewed Boat
Not the most interesting performances of the evening however still a pleasure watching it. The mistake was made at the end when creating the shape of the boat. Looks like the guy in the middle got the wrong position and skewed the entire side of the boat.
#6 The Light Runners
You might not have noticed but there were around 3 people who forgot to turn their lights on during the entire performance. It stood out like a rose among thrones.
#7 Flag Throwing
During the final moments of the Chinese National Anthem, the flag was raised. I thought it was funny how the flag was thrown into the face of a solider.
After 4 entertaining hours of watching, the conclusion I can make is that China’s got game. Well presented and well executed. By far the best opening ceremony I’ve seen 10 out 10!
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Ryan | Aug 10, 2008 | Reply
You forgot the kid walking with Yao Ming, was waiving a Chinese flag was upside-down the whole time.
Ryan | Aug 10, 2008 | Reply
here is a photo of it http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/images/stories/large/2008/08/09/flag_ceremony_82217616.jpg
josh | Aug 10, 2008 | Reply
Entertaining….hardly…come on…i couldn’t stay awake!!!
loosebolt | Aug 10, 2008 | Reply
Listen for the Chinese announcers when the contingents for Niger and Nigeria are are presented. Oooops.
Fernando | Aug 11, 2008 | Reply
I actually liked better the Athens 2004 Opening Ceremonies, but that’s just because I like greek culture more than chinese.
100k | Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
You have got very picky eyes, but I have to agree all of your points are valid. Only a couple of notes:
Li Ning was attached to the safty lines which was controlled by the scrolling machine, it’s not his fault to run too fast(he was just pretending to run anyway).
Did you notice the guy popped up his head too early actully tried to hide back down while everyone else popped out, that was really funny.
The Manticore | Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
what about the BSOD? heh
tballou | Aug 13, 2008 | Reply
You missed the biggest mistake of all! When the Chinese team marched in, Yau Ming carried the national flag. Next to him was one of the earthquake survivors, whose smaller flag was mounted upside down on the little stick he was holding!
beached | Aug 14, 2008 | Reply
yea i completely agree they messed up the whole thing BUT…
YOU forgot a couple of things!!!
did you know, the fireworks at the opening ceremony were actualy done by a computer diagram!!!
AND the other thing was… The nine year old girl that was singing was actualy lip sinking :O and there was meant to be this other girl singing but they didn’y let her because she had criked teeth and didn’t look pretty enough!!!!
They are all so cruel amagine how the girl feels D:/):
but yea thats what you forgot!
here are tw pics the bottom one was the one meant to be singing and the top one is the one who was lipsinking you tell why they picked the top lol
C YA
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00382/standalone_split_382110a.jpg
beached | Aug 14, 2008 | Reply
i truely think the are the bigest mistakes!!1
Rebecca | Aug 15, 2008 | Reply
Didn’t they also pay some of the crowd to be there as well? So it looked like HEAPS of people turned up at their own free will, but some were actually “bribed”.
kim | Aug 16, 2008 | Reply
The silk road dancer woman was a last minute fill in. The original dancer broke her back in rehearsal and is paralized from the waste down.
David West | Aug 16, 2008 | Reply
Let’s not forget the other screwups that are being reported:
1) One of the displays in the birdcage pulled an infamous Blue Screen of Death
2) The soldiers under the stadium were there for 6 hours and not allowed to go to the bathroom
3) The poor dancer that broke her back was already mentioned, but not fully.
4) The Chinese had a lip syncher with the song because the real little girl singing had buck teeth
5) The fireworks on TV were computer simulations because helicopters were not allowed due to the hazard
6) The 56 ethnic children were all of the Han ethnicity, despite originally claiming to be of all the different groups.
rae | Aug 16, 2008 | Reply
during the movable type print, while the blocks were moving up and down to form patterns, there was one particular block which suddenly went up for a brief moment when it was supposed to be down. i think the guy made a mistake there. he immediately went down again. it was pretty obvious, when all the other blocks were down, n he suddenly popped up. i dunno why u missed that one
Benjamin | Aug 17, 2008 | Reply
Thanks David that’s a great list!
Benjamin | Aug 17, 2008 | Reply
@Rae that’s being too picky dude. I did notice it but not that interesting to point out
Rachel | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
i thought the little kid next to the piano was blind or something…
Christopher | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
A number of you persons who sit down and find the most frivilous crap to pick apart about one of the single most amazing and highly executed displays on the planet evidently DON’T have enough going on in your lives to be more productive with your words. Not one country will begin to make an attempt to match or surpass the quality of that show. How ridiculous can you be talking about a guy that came out a box too early….omg….let’s see one of you do it for your country.
10/10 for Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Ray | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Geez, I wonder what happens now to those who made these mistakes that severely tarnished China’s image and ruined the ceremony? Will they be sent to concentration camps? Cheers!
asdf | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
It has it’s faults, it’s difficult to achieve perfection no matter how well choreographed. Regardless the of the inexcusable situation of the little girls being swapped, the opening ceremony did live up to it’s hype.
Ashley | Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
What I want to say is “Wow!” Great performance! Excellent teamwork demonstrated! Great co-ordination! Nice visual effect and use of color! I just wish I was there to watch the great show in person!
Consider the effort and number of people involved, we should not have any complaints. Otherwise, it will be like “picking bone from an egg”.
I wasn’t happy about the lip-singing thing. But then think about it. It is just a show. They just want everything to be perfect. But because of the controversy, I think they will learn next time (please be reminided that most of the opening ceremony has pre-recorded music to avoid any potential technical error).
Anyway, great show! Thumbs-up to the Chinese Olympic organization team.