Who’s the athlete to watch in the Paralympic Games? I’m not sure if my kailiyan from the boondocks, Adeline Dumapong is going to the Games but she’s a force to reckon with in powerlifting.

Here’s the link for those of you looking for the official website of the Paralympic Games.

Photo credit: beijing paralympics

But here’s some media reviews on the opening ceremony:

The New York Times: Until now, the most memorable of the ceremonies I have seen was thrown by Sydney, where the Australian irreverent sense of humor and magnificent backdrop of a gorgeous city made it a terrific show.

But this one was mesmerizing on such a grand scale, with the meaning of this event to a huge, formerly closed country obvious in every minute.

And the culminating lighting of the cauldron was jaw-droppingly cool. In a word, wow.

Canadian Broadcasting Company: Well, the potential Greatest Olympics Of All Time are off to a fine start. The opening ceremony clocked in at just over four hours, but went off pretty much without a hitch, with some dazzling theatrics to boot. Here’s hoping we’re in for more of the same over the next 16 days. Let the Games begin!

The Vancouver Sun: But heat and hairy, sweaty men aside, it was an absolutely amazing experience, from the opening performance to the lighting of the torch. I’m thrilled to have seen it.

BBC: The 2008 Olympic Games were launched at a dazzling ceremony in Beijing, as athletes from more than 200 countries gathered in the Bird’s Nest stadium.

Drums, a light show and pyrotechnics began the four-hour ceremony – 29 sets of fireworks, representing each edition of the modern Games, lit up Beijing.

National Post: A pretty close to perfect Opening Ceremony that was remarkably free of bombast. It was probably better that we didn’t have any reminders of the more unsavoury moments in China’s recent history. It was pretty obvious from the start that money was no object to Games Organizers. I wonder how they’ll close off these Games in two weeks time. Also, just how will the London organizers come anywhere close to this is anyone’s guess.

Voice of America: China is known for its fireworks and what a display it was. Among the pyrotechnics interspersed throughout the ceremonies were 29 so-called “footprints” rising into the sky, to represent the 29 times the Olympic games have been held, and a huge finale.

The Edmonton Sun: If any future Olympic Games is ever credited with a more awesome, brilliant, inspired, powerful or original opening ceremonies it might have to be because everybody on the planet developed amnesia.

The spectacular show which China produced to welcome the world to the XXIX Olympic Games and welcome themselves to the world was almost certainly the greatest show in the history of the greatest show in sport.

Photo credit: National Post

It is fitting that Beckham is joining this handover because he’s one of the “ambassadors” for London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

PHOTO SOURCE: Beijing 2008.

A 50-second reporting piece on the Olympics and the earthquake from the Chinese Central Television (CCTV) might have been staged. The post on the Chinese-language website has a Youtube link to the story, which describes how Olympic torch bearers have donated to the earthquake relief efforts.

The post pointed out that in the last ten seconds of the story, the Olympic torch holders are shown putting money in a donation box, but a closer look shows that their hands are empty.

Newamericamedia based its report from this Chinese website. If the report is true, i.e., if the torch bearers didn’t really donate anything, one wonders what public relations benefit the authorities are trying to obtain by staging it.

But then again, maybe there are other torchbearers not included in the video who did donate to to China’s earthquake relief. At this point, let’s call this a non-scandal.

PHOTO SOURCE: Beijing 2008

I am against the boycott, I am against the badge. Boycott is not for the athletes. What we have to boycott are the people signing million of euros in business contracts. France has no lesson to give to China. There are so many Blacks and Arabs who get burnt up in France and the so-called humanitarians don’t stand up (for them).

Do you understand these people who call themselves humanitarians and who are violent with those carrying the torch?

Eunice Barber is a two-time heptathlon and long jump world champion. She was born in Sierra Leone and acquired French citizenship in 1999. According to a Reuters report Barber once complained she had been a victim of police brutality and racist abuse when arrested for driving on a closed road outside Paris.

Tonique took 2007 off because of injuries but is looking forward to the Beijing Olympics.

Among his reasons:

* A highly competitive team
* The traditional home-field advantage that host nations enjoy
* Increased incentives for athletes
* Large infusion of funds for sports
* The world’s best coaches training Chinese athletes AND coaches
* 1.3 billion people

Roush also believes that Beijing 2008 will lay the foundation for future Chinese dominance in the Olympics. Read more here.

Related:
Olympic Predictions: Who Will Be the Overall Champions
Olympic Medal Predictions: The Overall Winner