Beijing ready to dazzle at handover

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea — Beijing’s eightminute show at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics will convey warm greetings to the world from the host of the 2022 Winter Games in a high-tech way, producer Sha Xiaolan said on Tuesday.

As the host city of the 2022 Games, Beijing will present a show for the handover at Sunday’s closing ceremony in Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, where the performers from Beijing have rehearsed since their arrival.

“The eight-minute show is very different from the show at Athens 2004 (Summer Olympics), which showcased China’s history with traditional elements like red lanterns and jasmine,” Sha said.

“China has such a long history, and our director, Zhang Yimou, said it was difficult to demonstrate China’s history in only eight minutes.

“So we have gone a different way this time, ... using high-tech measures to illustrate Chinese people’s sincere welcome to the world,” he said.

Zhang, a well-known Chinese film director, directed Beijing’s eight-minute show in Athens as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, which received considerable international acclaim.

Zhang said earlier that this time he would like to demonstrate “the new achievement of contemporary China, like modern technology, rather than repeat the story of long before”.

Despite the low temperatures in the outdoor Olympic Stadium, the Beijing team has tested the machines in extreme conditions, according to Sha.

We have gone a different way this time, ... using high-tech measures.”

Sha Xiaolan, producer of China’s eight-minute show for the closing ceremony