Let the Games begin!

I could see only bits and pieces of the Olympics opening ceremony from four different hotels. However, I made it a point to see the torch lighting ceremony, for I wouldn’t have missed it for the life of me. But it left me a bit disappointed, actually.

It was hyped beyond measure and so many conspiracy theories abounded. However, I thought “Oh, no!” the moment I saw the ‘wall runner’ standing in the centre, with two ropes going up from his two sides. At that moment, it was crystal clear to me about how the flame would be lighted.

Credit where it is due, the view of the scroll unfurling ALL ACROSS the stadium left me breathless. To erect a giant television screen all through the stadium is no mean feat. But the execution left a lot to be desired. The runner outran the scroll on one occasion. He had to slow down and the scroll, speed up, before he was back on it again. And at the end, the scroll had its sweet revenge when he got caught up at the tail of the scroll. It was a totally miscalculated sequence.

The torch lighting was also too simple, in my humble opinion.

It is here that I take my hats off to the brains behind the Doha Asian Games opening ceremony. No one had a clue until the very final moment that the prince was going to get his horse UP THERE. The difference between Doha and China was that one had danger and daring written all over it while the other was mechanical, with the proverbial safety belt firmly on.

While I am no proponent of drunken driving or dangerous stunts, I think the world stood up and held their breath until the prince was majestically atop the Khalifa Stadium on December 1, 2006. It had a human touch as it was sheer will power that took him there, despite the rain wet steps. In China, I hardly held my breath. It was too plain…and mechanical. I am hoping that the competitions there would ultimately wipe off my disappointment of the opening ceremony.

The Qatari contingent looked nothing less than royal. There were no women, I agree. But that was because NONE had qualified. At the Doha Asian Games, there were many ladies due to two reasons.

a) Qatar was the host country and could field athletes of their choice.
b) The qualification marks were way lower than world standards.

However, trust me when I say that in 2012 in London, things will be different. Women’s teams are being readied on the sidelines. Athletics, shooting and table tennis are just three sports that come to mind where a silent revolution is on.

Anyways, in China, the battle lines have been drawn, the war paint has been donned and the spectators have taken their seats at the arena.

Now…

…LET THE GAMES BEGIN!