Years from now, long after the details of the opening and closing ceremonies at the “Bird’s Nest” Stadium in Beijing may be forgotten, the impact of the Beijing Olympics will continue to be felt worldwide.
Yes, the opening ceremonies were spectacular, mounted on a scale never seen before in any Olympic celebration. But this was much more than a display of China’s growing economic power and its immense population. The ceremonies were a true artistic triumph. Ancient traditions were combined perfectly with modern technology in a cascade of unforgettable presentations. What we Americans (and people around the world) saw at 8 PM on August 8, 2008 was pure history in the making.


