And So It Begins ...

Some spectacular show, wasn't it?
A whopping $100 million, it's been said, went into the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympics. And the guess here is that one heck of a lot of it was poured into the fireworks the lit up the smoggy skies in the city of 17.4 million that is playing host to these Summer Games.
An interesting view of it all on this end. Woke up this morning and watched the first couple of hours of the big show at home on my HDTV, and what a stunning way to take it all in. These are the first-ever all-HD Olympics and we can hardly wait to see what the next 17 days bring from all the various venues in Beijing — many of which are truly a sight for the eyes (especially after the sun goes down).
Off to the office, then, where I caught a good chunk of the Parade of Nations on CBCSports.ca (shhhh!). The feed aired with no commentary, which brings a couple of thoughts to mind: On the one hand, it was a bit fun to feel the the sights and sounds the same way the 91,000 at National Stadium (a.k.a. the Bird's Nest) did today.
Some might even suggest it's a bonus to not hear TV voices yammering on ad nauseum, though it must be pointed out the CBC hosts Ron MacLean and Peter Mansbridge were respectful throughout, only interjecting when they felt the need to offer something informative that was needed to enhance the story (a side note: CBC is using the host broadcast feed, which will make for many a shot of a person in the stands that makes a viewer think 'who the hell is that?').
Had to move up to a regular TV here, though, to see the lighting of the Olympic flame, which signals the Games have truly begun. We've seen this done in many unique ways over the years (remember Cathy Freeman in the water at Sydney 2000, or the archer at Barcelona 1992?) but seeing Chinese gymnastics hero Li Ning (a six-time medallist in Los Angeles in 1984) traverse the length of the Bird's Nest on a trapeze might just have been an all-time topper.
The final verdict?
If the Opening Ceremony is any indicator about what's to come, we are in for an extraordinary two weeks in the Orient.
Let the Games begin, indeed!
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An on-site perspective from CBC blogger Bernice Chan that's worth a read. She was at the Bird's Nest for the Opening Ceremony.
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They were having great fun on ESPN Radio earlier today, chiding NBC for promoting "the Opening Ceremony tonight" on the The Today Show this morning — while said event was actually going on live in Beijing.
Thought it was only us Canadians who noticed such things.