Olympics Opening Ceremony

Probably the grandest celebratory spectacle that I have ever seen.

What a gathering of humanity! What an organized effort to express something on an unprecedented scale!

What precision! What vision!

Watching the ceremony on television, I just didnt want it to end.

One of the most memorable scenes was that of the little child singing.

Yet another was the spectacular display of the maritime valor – what with such theaterization and effects. The whole thing was just magical.

I could help thinking about the Montreal Olympics back in 1976 which we had seen on Black and White television back in India – for which we were extremely greatful then. Indeed it was nice walking through the Olympic stadium area in Montreal this summer as we toured what is now the Biodome.

There is something special about such event related spectacular displays. Disney specializes just in this. Whether it is the magic of Disney World or that of their parades. The annual Labor Day and July 4th fireworks again call for appreciation of the grandeur, the split second precision and more. But the Olympic inaugural in 2008 was something beyond anything that I have seen. In terms of scale, novelty, vision, unimaginable use of media, people, costumes and more.