BEIJING — The mother of all firework shows will commence Friday in the motherland of the firework.
Invented in the 12th century in China, fireworks have become a part of Chinese culture, and this will be a integral part in Friday’s Olympic opening ceremonies, where 15,000 shells will be set off in National Stadium, and another 14,000 shells in the surrounding area.
The Fourth of July will never look the same.
Ning Wang, the director of the opening ceremonies, said fireworks will shoot off continuously during the ceremony, which will feature 15,000 performers and an additional 5,000 people to help put on the greatest show on earth.
“The first group of performers are from professional artistic organizations from all over the country. The second group of people are students and the third group are artistic performers from the People’s Liberation Army,” he said.
Asked what these Games, spearheaded by the opening ceremonies, will mean to China, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said: “They will mean a lot for the rest of the world to discover what China really is – to discover a country that, for most people of the world, is a bit mysterious.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
