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Who will light the Olympic cauldron? Apparently not Yao or Liu

Friday, 8th August 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

We're just hours away from finding out the answer to a question that's been asked for months—who will be the final torchbearer, the person who lights the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremonies tonight?

China's favorite athletes, basketball star Yao Ming and 110-meter hurdles world champion Liu Xiang, seem like logical choices. But according to China Daily, Olympic tradition has set a precedent of each person only carrying the flame one time. Yao carried the torch in Beijing Wednesday, and Liu carried it when the relay began on March 31.

So if not Liu or Yao, then who? We don't have interns to research all the athletes who haven't carried the torch, so my guess is going to be pretty uneducated. But here it is: Yao was actually the original choice to light the cauldron, but after the Sichuan earthquake rocked the country in May, the powers that be have changed plans. The torch will be lit by someone from Sichuan, who embodies hope for that region and for China.

Another possibility that I'd love to see is one of the many people who worked so hard in anonymity to build the mammoth Olympic structures that China is so proud of and that have become one of the most prominent symbols of these games.

Of course, China could show how modern it is by breaking with tradition. Or maybe someone knows a really dexterous panda.

Tags: Beijing Olympics, Liu Xiang, Olympics, opening ceremonies, Sichuan earthquake, torch relay, Yao Ming

Opening ceremonies sneak peek

Thursday, 31st July 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

From Danwei: A Korean film crew has leaked a video of an Olympic opening ceremonies rehearsal.



Tags: Beijing Olympics, opening ceremonies

Opening ceremonies just an elaborate trap?

Thursday, 31st July 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

Disclaimer: the below is from The Onion, a satirical fake news organization based in the United States. The people in the video are actors and no one is supposed to think this is real.


The Beijing Olympics: Are They A Trap?

Tags: Beijing Olympics, comedy, opening ceremonies, The Onion