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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony stories: 15 news summaries
OPINION

 How China Rewrote 
 Tiananmen History 

Recalling Tiananmen 20 years later

May 27, 09 2:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Tiananmen Square massacre isn’t something the Chinese government wants the world to remember, and it's doing a good job keeping the matter quiet, writes Terrence Cheng in the Chronicle of Higher Education. In China, “those who dare to speak about it are swiftly silenced,” he writes.... More »

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China • Tiananmen Square • 2008 Beijing Olympics • protests • massacre • history • Opening Ceremony • killings

2 Chinese 'Songbirds' May Close Games Together

Dual-billing with counterpart Lin Maioke expected

Aug 22, 08 11:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Yang Peiyi, the 7-year-old songstress whom Chinese officials deemed better heard than seen during the Olympic opening ceremonies, may appear alongside her lip-syncing counterpart during Sunday’s closing ceremonies, the Hong Kong Standard reports. Organizers who claimed that the decision to replace Yang with a cuter girl was “in... More »

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2012 London Olympics • 2008 Beijing Olympics • David Beckham • Opening Ceremony • lip sync

OLYMPICS

 China Defends
 'Olympic Karaoke'

Bucktoothed girl not 'flawless' enough for Olympic image

Aug 14, 08 9:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Chinese officials are defending Friday’s lip-synched performance of its national anthem, reports the AP. "There were a number of candidates to sing that song and at the end of the day the artistic directors picked the best voice and the best performer," a spokesman said. The actual... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Opening Ceremony • lip sync

OLYMPICS

 Chinese Dancer Paralyzed in Fall

Liu Yan was rehearsing for opening ceremonies; may never walk again

Aug 14, 08 7:23 AM CDT
(Newser) - One of China’s top classical dancers may have been paralyzed for life during rehearsals for the Olympics' opening ceremonies, the New York Times reports. Liu Yan was to perform the show’s only solo number, until she missed a jump to a malfunctioning platform 12 days ago, falling... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • injury • Opening Ceremony • paralysis • Liu Yan

 China's Anthem Star a Fake

China replaces buck-toothed girl to craft 'perfect image'

Aug 12, 08 8:02 AM CDT
(Newser) - Nine-year-old Lin Miaoke became a sensation after performing the Chinese anthem at the Olympics opening ceremony, and has been busily doing interviews and accepting praise ever since. There’s just one problem: The voice billions around the world actually heard was a 7-year-old with crooked teeth who was replaced after... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Opening Ceremony • national anthem

ANALYSIS

 New Media Thwart
 Edwards, Olympics

Masses now the arbiter of news

Aug 11, 08 10:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - The mainstream media aren't the arbiter of news anymore—every man, woman, and child with a mouse is, according to David Carr of the New York Times. For proof, look no further than the Olympics opening ceremonies or the John Edwards scandal. No matter how hard it tried,... More »

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media • John Edwards • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Internet leak • Opening Ceremony • new media

 Beijing Pulled
 Fireworks Fake Out


Marching 'footprints' in the sky were computer effect

Aug 11, 08 4:11 AM CDT
(Newser) - One of the most spectacular elements of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was actually a special effect created for television viewers around the world. Giant marching aerial footprints outlined by fireworks were created by sophisticated computer graphics digitally inserted into the live coverage, reports the Daily Telegraph. More »

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2008 Beijing Olympics • fireworks • Opening Ceremony • Birds Nest National Stadium • Gao Xiaolong • Beijing Olympic Committee

 Fireworks Open Olympics

Five-hour ceremony gets under way

Aug 8, 08 7:47 AM CDT
(Newser) - The most impressive Olympic games on record began in explosive fashion today, as more than 80 heads of state and 91,000 spectators gathered in the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing. The five-hour opening ceremony began with a dazzling fireworks display, with hundreds of white-robed drummers playing in unison.... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Opening Ceremony

 'Lost Boy' Lomong
 to Carry US Flag 
 at Olympics

'Most exciting day of my life,' says former Sudanese refugee

Aug 7, 08 2:05 AM CDT
(Newser) - Former Darfur "Lost Boy" refugee Lopez Lomong, who became a US citizen one year ago, has been chosen to carry the Stars & Stripes at tomorrow's opening ceremony of the Olympics. "This is the most exciting day of my life," Lomong, 23, told the Boston Globe.... More »

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Opening Ceremony • Olympic Games • Lopez Lomong • Olympic Village

Musharraf Will, Won't, Will Attend Olympic Kick-Off

He flip-flops on trip amid impeachment talk

Aug 6, 08 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - Pervez Musharraf will be in Beijing tomorrow for the Olympics' opening ceremony, the foreign ministry said today, reversing an earlier announcement that he had canceled the trip. The president is battling possible impeachment at home, the BBC reports, and opposition leaders met yesterday, reportedly to discuss an ouster. The cancellation... More »

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Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • impeachment • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Pakistan People's Party • Opening Ceremony • Pakistan Muslim League • Pakistan coalition talks

Russia Denies Sharapova Bid to Carry Flag at Olympics

Coach concerned with tiring opening ceremony

Jun 25, 08 3:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Russian officials have denied Maria Sharapova’s request to carry her country’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, Reuters reports. “I advised against” Sharpova’s wish to be a flag-bearer, the Russian tennis chief said. “We want her to be fresh, not tired, during... More »

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Russia • tennis • Maria Sharapova • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Opening Ceremony • women's tennis • Pro tennis

 Sarko Too Nice to China: Critics 

French president assailed for abandoning human-rights concerns

Apr 23, 08 9:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - Paris seems to have reversed a tide of anti-French sentiment in China, but critics wonder if President Nicolas Sarkozy’s charm offensive has undermined his country’s commitment to human rights, Der Spiegel reports. Since Sarkozy’s messages of conciliation have gone out, China’s Foreign Ministry has praised the... More »

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China • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Opening Ceremony • Olympic boycotts • Carrefour

Olympic Boycott Is a 'Cop-Out': Bush Adviser

Says skipping opening ceremony isn't effective protest against China

Apr 13, 08 1:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - The foreign dignitaries opting to skip the Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony are engaging in a "cop-out," said President Bush's national security adviser today. What's more, claimed Stephen Hadley, they're missing an opportunity to meaningfully pressure China via behind-the-scenes diplomacy—as the US is doing. Bush has said he... More »

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China • human rights • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Opening Ceremony • human rights abuse • Stephen Hadley • George W. Bush

Sarkozy Dangles Olympic Boycott

'Open' to skipping opening ceremonies
if China-Tibet tensions don't improve

Mar 25, 08 12:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy says "all options are open" in terms of a possible boycott of the opening ceremonies of Beijing's Olympics. While his aides say that France would oppose a full boycott of the games, the French prez is signaling his discontent with China's recent crackdown in Tibet. "I... More »

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China • Nicolas Sarkozy • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Dalai Lama • Opening Ceremony • Olympic boycotts

Sevigny Launches Clothing Line

Actress, fashionista unveils Fashion Week entry

Sep 1, 07 6:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - As the fashion-obsessed flock to New York this week for the semi-annual collections, “Big Love” actress and downtown icon Chloe Sevigny has thrown her hat into the ring, announcing a new clothing line with avant-garde New York boutique Opening Ceremony, Women’s Wear Daily reports. More »

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fashion • clothes • Chloe Sevigny • Opening Ceremony • Imitation of Christ • Big Love • Fashion Week

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