The broadcast of a minute-long video clip of the dress rehearsal for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony has caused anger and embarrassment. Chinese organisers, who had made participants and the selected audience sign confidentiality agreements to keep the content of the ceremony secret, hit at the perpetrators for stealing the surprise out of the pageantry.
“We are disappointed and frustrated with the broadcast by SBS,” Beijing organising committee spokesman Sun Weide said of the South Korean TV network last week. Official broadcasters who had spent fortunes for the rights to the Olympics coverage in their countries were no less irate. But the public was tantalised. Rather than dampen feverish expectations for China’s most lavish pageantry ever staged, the airing of the clip sparked a frenzy of speculation and exchange of photographs on the web. Anticipations of a visual feast prepared by Oscar nominee director Zhang Yimou rose at the stunning sight of flying kung fu fighters and the unrolling of a shimmering ancient scroll meant to signify the nobility of Chinese ancient civilisation. In a city gripped by security paranoia and run with iron-fist discipline, the “paparazzi incident” provided some much needed lighter touch — proof that not everything can be anticipated and surprises can generate excitement too.
