Superb designs for the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Ever since I was a kid I remember the superb opening festivities at the Olympic Games. The dancers, the dances, the costumes, the olympic torch, all came together to create a great and impressive opening show. And judging by the superb arrangements below, I think this year, at Beijing will be quite a spectacle.

These are some of the awesome designs the chinese authorities have prepared for the upcoming guests.

The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, will be celebrated from August 8, 2008, to August 24, 2008, with the opening ceremony beginning at 08:08:08 pm CST (12:08:08 UTC) at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

The Mascots Design

The Fuwa were designed by Han Meilin.

The Fuwa consist of five members that incorporate fish, giant panda, fire, Tibetan antelope, and swallow designs. They roughly correspond with the five elements of Chinese philosophy: water, metal, fire, wood, and earth. The Fuwa each have as their primary color one of the colors of the five Olympic Rings that stand for the five continents. The five Fuwa are named Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. When the first syllable of each of the five names are said together, the result is the phrase Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni which means “Beijing welcomes you”.

The Emblem

Unveiled in August 2003 in a ceremony attended by 2008 people at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, the emblem was named “Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing“.

With inspiration from the traditional Chinese art form - calligraphic art, the character “Jing” (the latter of the city’s name) is developed into the form of a dancing human being, reflecting the ideal of a “New Olympics”. The words “Beijing 2008” also resembles the vivid shapes of Chinese characters in handwriting, voicing in concise strokes of the countless feelings Chinese people possess towards the Olympics.

“Dancing Beijing” is a favorite color of the Chinese people. The color “red” is intensively used in the emblem, pushing the passion up to a new level. It carries Chinese people’s longing for luck and happiness and their explanation of life. (via Beijing 2008 Olympics website)

More info and design related facts on the Beijing 2008 Olympics website.