Beijing 2008 OLYMPIC:Pomp,Pageantry And Splendour

Hantu Laut

It was an awesome display of pyrotechnics and pageantry.A show of epic proportion.The best Olympic opening ceremony I have seen so far.It's a coming out party for China, showcasing its 5000 years of history,economic and technological advancement with pomp and circumstance.

The countdown started with 2008 drummers, pounded thundering rhythms on the drums accompanied by flying acrobats on wire, stunts usually seen in Hong Kong made Shaolin movies.

It was probably the most expensive extravanga ever hosted in Olympic history.There were almost 30,000 fireworks ignited within the stadium and its surrounding area for the duration of the opening.A psychedelia of colours illuminated the Bird's Nest stadium and the hazy skies of Beijing.

World leaders who attended the ceremony were US President George W. Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak and many others.With the exception of the Thai Prime Minister, leaders from other Asean countries were conspicuously absent and some,including Malaysia, didn't send prominent figure to represent the country at this very important world event.

If the Prime Minister or his Deputy were too busy they could have requested the Agong to represent the country.Being a sportsman himself,I am sure His Royal Highness would be more than pleased to go as head of state,unless he is also busy with his official functions.

The ceremony went on for almost four hours without a dull moment.The choreography was excellent and executed with utmost precision and splendour.

I believe China will overtake the U.S. in medal tally this time around.In the 2004 Olympic at Athens she lost to the U.S. short of 3 gold medals.

Medal Tally
United States	35	39	29
China	32	17	14

Only rich country can host the Olympic.The US$40 billion spent to host the Olympic will not go to waste.

Has China joined the rich countries, maybe not yet, but it has shown the world what it can do to its economy in a short span of time. It's a nation that has taken an arduous journey from its days of closed-door communism to an economic behemoth worthy of envy and respect. It's certainly a force to be reckoned with in the future.

China boleh !

Note:My apology to Malaysia and the Agong, I understand later from news report, he was there, maybe the commentator and cameraman think Malaysia doesn't deserve a mention.