Read and compare articles, opinions and analyses gathered from the best news sources around the globe.
The Olympic closing ceremony will take place on Sunday. (Image: China News Service)
Latest world viewpoints
Curtain call for the Beijing Olympic Games
"We are dedicated to creating a happy atmosphere at the closing ceremony. The message is to say goodbye, and to promise to meet again in four years." Zhang Yimou on China Daily
The closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will take place on Sunday, August 24 at 8 pm. According to media reports, this time spectators should be prepared to be blown away by an even more stupendous show than at the August 8 opening.
China has been as tight-lipped about the closing ceremony as it was about the opening ceremony, but press reports say that the show will feature dancing dragons and fireworks, among others, as well as a long lineup of celebrities. In addition, 350 practitioners from a local martial arts school will demonstrate their kung fu skills on stage, according to China Daily.
The event will also function as the official handover ceremony to London 2012. According to a number of articles from European news sources, including Manchester Evening News, the show will include a heavy dose of British humor and a few UK celebrities. In a segment intended to celebrate the British national identity, a group of hoodies will dance to hip-hop music, the Daily Mail abhors.
According to People Magazine, the show will also include an appearance by one of today's most celebrated Britons, soccer player David Beckham. Other international stars include Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, who will sing a duet with Chinese soprano Song Zuying, MSNNine writes. The ceremony will also see former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page performing a duet with pop star Leona Lewis, the Bangkok Post reports.
According to executive producer Chen Weiya, the tight schedule for setting up the show presents the biggest challenge to the organizers, China.org.cn says. For this reason, the show can also not be rehearsed at the stadium, the People's Daily Online writes. Zhang Yimou, chief director of the ceremonies, told Xinhua that the climax of the show would be the extinguishing of the Olympic flame.
Aromatherapy in a cup!
Our White Jasmine Spring Bud tea was harvested from the mountain areas of Fujian province in the spring of 2007. Made only from the most tender leaves, it is one of the best varieties of white j...
Read more »
Learn to Cook Chinese Dishes - Vegetable
A guide to preparing scrumptious Chinese vegetarian dishes. About 40 different mouth-watering recipes in a wirebound book with laminated wipe-clean pages. High-quality color pictures of the dishes and simple instructions...
Read more »
| China | Europe | North-America | From elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closing ceremony to 'dazzle' the world China Daily - 18th August 2008 With less than one week left of the Olympics, Chinese are preparing to dazzle the world again with a glittering closing ceremony on August 24. China's Song, Spain's Domingo to Sing together on Closing Ceremony CRI Nordic - 16th August 2008 Famous Chinese soprano Song Zuying and Spanish tenor Placido Domingo will sing together on the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Opening ceremony director praises team performance Xinhua - 9th August 2008 After planning and carrying out a spectacular event that reflected the ancient and modern images of China to the world, Zhang remained humble and reflective. Closing ceremony will be unrehearsed People's Daily Online - 19th August 2008 China is preparing to dazzle the world again with a glittering closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on Sunday. Closing ceremony more challenging than opening, says Chen China.org.cn - 13th August 2008 Chen Weiya, the executive director, said staging the August 24 closing ceremony will be even more challenging than last Friday's opening. |
Games chiefs 'unfazed by Beijing' BBC - 21st August 2008 Organisers of the 2012 London Olympics have not been intimidated by the dazzling Beijing Games, mayor Boris Johnson has said. Led Zepplin legend to star for London in Beijing closing ceremony Inside the Games - 14th August 2008 Led Zepplin guitarist Jimmy Page is to join David Beckham and Leona Lewis when London receives the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony of the Bejing Games. Beijing Olympic Closing Ceremony to have British sense of humour injection Manchester Evening News - 15th August 2008 The Olympic Opening Ceremony was spectacular wasn't it? How is London 2012 going to follow it? Hmmm. A Preview of British Humor at the Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony for 2012 London Associated Content - 20th August 2008 People will be reminded after the more serious and dramatic Beijing Games that London will be considerably lighter, as long as terrorism doesn't happen. Hip-hop hoodies represent British 'national identity' in Beijing Olympics closing ceremony Now Public - 15th June 2008 Seems as though UK opposition leader David Cameron's plee that we should not demonise but instead 'hug a hoodie' has been taken to heart by the organisers of the 2012 London Olympics. Hip-hop hoodies to represent British 'national identity' in Beijing Olympics closing ceremony Daily Mail - 15th July 2008 Connoisseurs of political embarrassment might remember the toe-curling scenes as Tony Blair and the Queen grimaced their way through Auld Lang Syne in the Millennium Dome eight years ago. |
David Beckham to Help Close Olympics People - 14th August 2008 David Beckham will star in the Aug. 24 closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Rice Cancels Plan to Attend Olympics Closing, Chao to Go Instead FoxNews.com - 19th August 2008 The United States says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will not attend the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing because of the crisis in Georgia. Rice will not attend Olympic closing ceremonies International Herald Tribune - 19th August 2008 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, confronted with sudden array of global troubles, has dropped plans to attend the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing. David Beckham Scheduled to Appear in Olympics Closing Ceremony Efluxmedia - 15th August 2008 Media reports on Friday revealed that David Beckham is scheduled to appear in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on August 24. |
Beckham to star at Beijing closing ceremony Yahoo!News, India - 15th August 2008 After Chinese wizardry at the opening Ceremony, London, which hosts the 2012 Olympics, will rely on its famous footballer David Beckham to enthrall the spectators at the closing's handover ceremony. Beckham and Led Zeppelin’’s Jimmy Page to close Beijing Olympics Taindia - 14th August 2008 England football star David Beckham will star at the Olympics closing ceremony in Beijing as the handover to London 2012 gets under way. Closing ceremony tipped to be lavish MSNNine, Australia - 19th August 2008 The closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics may not be as eagerly anticipated as the lavish opening ceremony, but details revealed suggest it could be another spectacular performance. Closing ceremony of Olympics to feature all-star turnout Bangkok Post - 19th August 2008 The closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics may not be as eagerly anticipated as the lavish opening ceremony, but details revealed Tuesday suggest it could be another spectacular performance. |
