At a forum in Beijing, Mayor Wang Qishan announced that the next
Olympics will open at 8 PM on August 8, 2008.
It had previously been set for late August to avoid the end of
the capital's hot summer, but as this would collide with the tennis
US Open and Major League Baseball, the opening time for the games
was moved.
Besides, according to Chinese tradition, the number 8 signifies
both good luck and wealth, so three in a row are particularly
auspicious.
"A good opening ceremony means half, or more than a half of the
Olympic success," Wang remarked. The Beijing municipal government
has assembled a think tank to discuss the details of the opening
ceremony.
On the design of the platform, Wang said three plans were under
consideration: Western style, Chinese and a combination of the two.
Beijing is thought likely to settle on the second after talks with
the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Three million international visitors are expected to come to
Beijing for the 2008 Games, including 20,000 athletes and coaches,
and over 30,000 foreign journalists. Wang revealed that so far some
20,000 reporters from over the globe had registered to attend.
Wang also announced that the IOC had refused Beijing's proposal
to include martial arts as a new event -- whether it will be an
exhibition event or not is still under discussion.
(China.org.cn November 5, 2004)