Shanghaiist: Video: Sneak preview of Beijing Olympics opening ceremony

July 30, 2008

Video: Sneak preview of Beijing Olympics opening ceremony - UPDATED

Much to the dismay of some Chinese YouTube commenters, a Korean news team sneaked into Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium and videotaped rehearsals of the much-hyped Zhang Yimou-orchestrated opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. One Twitter user commented that the whole thing "looks somewhat fascist. Confascisism?"

What do you think?

UPDATE: The original two videos we embedded were removed by YouTube. We have replaced them with three more.

Via Danwei

By Dan Washburn in Arts/Entertainment | Link | Comments (11) | Recommend this! (6) |

Tags: beijing, bird's nest, china, danwei, korea, korean, olympics, opening ceremony, secret, television, TV, video, youtube, zhang yimou

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Comments (11) [rss]

[1] | 07/30/08 06:49PM
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Reminds me of some of the Mass Games stuff I saw in PyongYang last year.

AjS

[2] | 07/30/08 10:08PM
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I guess Koreans always do it better since it reminds me of 1988 Seoul Olympic which you guys were still in diapers.

[3] | 07/30/08 10:28PM
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Looks like YouTube took the videos down for some reason. Anyone have alternate links?

[4] | 07/30/08 10:29PM
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"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by a third party."

[5] | 07/30/08 11:09PM
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I'm sure China put the pressure on YouTube telling it to remove it.. Koreans always ruining the fun.

[6] | 07/31/08 02:50AM
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I watched the video. I think the performance is great. Can't wait to see more!

[7] | 07/31/08 08:15AM
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http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e2e_1217434995

[8] | 07/31/08 09:23AM
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"Confascism" is a nice coinage. Put it together with "consumunism" and you've got a pretty good description of things: Confascist consumunism. It's much better than that old "Demoncrazy" ol' eastman keeps going on about.

[9] | 07/31/08 09:34AM
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I have updated the post with some different versions of the videos.

[10] | 07/31/08 09:53AM
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to WatchBagDVD,
As you harddisk over your narrow shoulders is still spacious, I like to input something more about Confucous saying about Olympic:
--When we see persons of worth, we should think of equalling them;
--When we see persons of a contrary character, ----we should turn inwards and examine ourselves;
--The faults of a superior person are like the sun and moon. They have their faults, and everyone sees them;
--If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even shoot;
--Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
--No matter where you go, there you are.
--The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential...these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
--Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.

Last one for you to keep you in fear,WatchBagDVD,
--Hide the capacity and bide the time.

Now you can storm to the boy next door and shout to him " I'm not a fool any more!" lol!

[11] | 08/02/08 06:36AM
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uhh... can someone enlighten me how this opening ceremony is fascist? or is it just a joke that I don't get?