Garygaz said:
Just because they have a booming economy doesn't mean they can throw environmental management out the door. Just because its there as a result of something else doesn't mean it can't detract from the ceremony.
Real fireworks? No, prerecorded show for the fly over bit and many others. Some things can be CGI just not the opening ceremony for the Olympics...
They used a lot of members of the People's Republican Army to fill seats of Chinese tickets and the media said they pretty much were instructed to cheer and make lots of noise.
I didn't say anything about Beijing disregarding environmental management. I'm just saying you need to be realistic about it. There is no way you can compare Sydney to Beijing without taking into account all the different factors such as their economy, population, etc. Also, it's undeniable that China is going through huge changes. 10 years ago, there were barely any cars on the road but now their living standards have improved to such an extent that they can finally enjoy a lifestyle that just about mirrors the most industrialised economies in the world. In time they'll learn to manage it better.
Yes, there were real fireworks. The CGI ones were implemented last minute because of safety concerns. Would you rather risking the lives on cameramen to film less than 60 seconds worth of fireworks? I personally think it was very responsible of them not to.
Also, with the 'rent-a-crowds', I did read that most seats were reserved for the Army + members of the Communist party but I don't see an issue with this.