Amazing Olympics Opener... WOW!
If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch the Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Seriously awesome.
I can’t even describe the energy here right now… watched it on live broadcast last night at Pyro Pizza with people from everywhere around the globe.
We cheered on our countries, our friend’s countries, countries that no one was present to represent, countries where we knew people who had already left Beijing but are still in our hearts…
When it began and Hu Jintao walked into the stadium, everyone in Pyro chanted “Hu-Jin-Tao! Hu-Jin-Tao!”
When the fireworks began, half the bar ran outside to see if we could see them (no, we couldn’t but that was ok…we ran back inside to watch)
Inna came by with the crew for Australian channel 7 to film the reactions in local bars.
When America’s team walked by, all the Americans in the bar started singing the national anthem and unrolled a flag. When Australia walked by, good friend and manager for Pyro/Lush Rich Ackers got up on the bar and unfurled an Australian flag (while dressed in Australian-flag clothing).
When the Chinese came out, everyone cheered, and the joy on the Beijinger’s faces was amazing to see.
When the torch was being relayed, all business in the place stopped and Rich and Josh (the other manager) got all the cooks and servers out front to watch.
People were crying.
Seriously.
Amazing.
And then we went out to party. The subway was running 24 hours just for today and we traveled to the Yen party seriously hyped. There was cheering. And shouting. And singing. And feats of dubious athleticism (pushups on the subway seats, spins around the pole in the middle of the subway car.)
People were coming from all the other cars to come watch or join in.
So. Freakin. Cool.
B
I can’t even describe the energy here right now… watched it on live broadcast last night at Pyro Pizza with people from everywhere around the globe.
We cheered on our countries, our friend’s countries, countries that no one was present to represent, countries where we knew people who had already left Beijing but are still in our hearts…
When it began and Hu Jintao walked into the stadium, everyone in Pyro chanted “Hu-Jin-Tao! Hu-Jin-Tao!”
When the fireworks began, half the bar ran outside to see if we could see them (no, we couldn’t but that was ok…we ran back inside to watch)
Inna came by with the crew for Australian channel 7 to film the reactions in local bars.
When America’s team walked by, all the Americans in the bar started singing the national anthem and unrolled a flag. When Australia walked by, good friend and manager for Pyro/Lush Rich Ackers got up on the bar and unfurled an Australian flag (while dressed in Australian-flag clothing).
When the Chinese came out, everyone cheered, and the joy on the Beijinger’s faces was amazing to see.
When the torch was being relayed, all business in the place stopped and Rich and Josh (the other manager) got all the cooks and servers out front to watch.
People were crying.
Seriously.
Amazing.
And then we went out to party. The subway was running 24 hours just for today and we traveled to the Yen party seriously hyped. There was cheering. And shouting. And singing. And feats of dubious athleticism (pushups on the subway seats, spins around the pole in the middle of the subway car.)
People were coming from all the other cars to come watch or join in.
So. Freakin. Cool.
B