[Beijing 2022 Olympics] Pedro Simao Rocha Sobral: A magical moment
Feb 08, 2022
Peking University, February 8, 2022: The opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics was a magical moment that culminated years of effort by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Chinese government and Chinese people. Having enjoyed the privilege of attending the event, I could not help but write down some of my thoughts on this unforgettable experience.
To be able to hold an event of this magnitude while the pandemic is still raging globally was truly a great achievement, one that could only be attained through the contribution of countless professionals, as well of the people as a whole. This was acknowledged by the IOC President Thomas Bach in his speech. Were it not for the now ubiquitous masks and the safety distance kept by our appointed seats, one would think the pandemic was but a distant memory.
The organization was quite considerate, providing transportation to the venue and supplying the audience with food and drinks. At the Bird’s Nest, blankets, gloves and hats were provided in order to help ward off the cold temperatures and make the occasion more pleasant. Not that the cold lasted for long: the young volunteers who, despite the night temperatures, welcomed us with best wishes and smiles under their masks, warmed our hearts. Even after the event was over, there they were to see us off, cold and tired, but certainly also glad that their efforts paid off. It truly made us feel welcome and an important part of this special occasion.
The various performances, bringing together people from all ages, were truly a spectacle of movement, music and color and it was impossible not to wave and clap along. One can only begin to imagine all the time and energy spent in creating, rehearsing and performing all the choreographies. The jaw-dropping visual effects, made with the most advanced technologies, were a delight to be seen, and the countdown sequence, directed by renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou, certainly did not leave anyone indifferent. The masterful cinematic fusion of breathtaking national landscapes, traditional scenes from Chinese New Year celebrations and sports action was the perfect way of celebrating this doubly special occasion. It was, for me, one of the major highlights of the night.
It was a night to celebrate athletic strength, speed, perseverance and dedication. But it was above all, I believe, also celebration of the Future, of a Shared Future. And it was the children, in whose eyes and smiles this Future is held, who were the real stars of the show. From the flawless rendition of “Me and My Homeland” (我和我的祖国), to the choral performance of the Olympic Hymn, to the final piece “Snowflakes” (雪花) that served as the theme for the lighting of the Torch (symbolically handed down from the older athletes to the younger), it was clear we were witnessing the wishes and aspirations of the youngest generations for a more peaceful and prosperous tomorrow.
For this World we have now, we are borrowing it from them.
Introduction
Pedro Simao Rocha Sobral, Portuguese, School of Foreign Language and Literature, Peking University
Edited by: Ye Yimeng
Source: PKU School of Foreign Languages
