I have to say, I can’t get enough of the Olympics. I’m mildly upset my situation doesn’t allow me to be in Beijing for three weeks to attend, observe, and learn. After my experience in Torino I know I’ll be attending more Olympics in the future. It may have been my first Games, but it was by no means my last.
The professor that brought me to Torino, Dr. Lisa Delpy Neirotti, is collaborating with Sports Business Daily to provide insights on her current trip to Beijing. They are definitely worth checking out. She also has a video blog and photos at the GW School of Business website.
It was reported that some of the fireworks were digitally engineered – still seen by those on TV and in the stadium, just not in their entirety. We also learned that the little singing girl lip-synced her performance. Questions abound as to whether or not these elements heightened or lowered the experience of the Opening Ceremonies. My thoughts: were the Opening Ceremonies any less spectacular because of the small elements? I think we still would have been blown away. Were either of the girls hurt by their performances? The girl we saw on TV has already modeled in several campaigns. And learning that the “less cute” girl has such a beautiful voice can only help her. I don’t believe the Chinese officials were trying to pull one over on the audience. It’s reminiscent of Marni Nixon singing for Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. It’s still a spectacular movie all-around and the dubbing fades to the background.
I remember standing in Piazza San Carlo in Torino watching the Opening Ceremonies in 2006. Listening and watching Pavarotti sing “Nessun Dorma” brought me to tears. The audience was silent, erupting in the enormous applause after he finished. My thoughts after learning that he had been in so ill-health that he lip-synced his performance: who cares. (Sure, it was his voice he was syncing to, but he still wasn’t actually singing). It’s still a moment I’ll never forget.
Here’s to another seven days of Olympics!
