8August2008
JacquesRogge,President,InternationalOlympicCommittee
“Thatwasspectacular.Tonight,theworldwasabletojoininamagnificenttributetotheathletesandtheOlympicspirit.Itwasanunforgettableandmovingceremonythatcelebratedtheimagination,originalityandenergyoftheBeijingGames.”
“Wewitnessedathletesfromthese204countriesandterritoriesunitedinpeaceinoneplace.Andforthenext16days,theywillbeapartofoneofthemostthrillingcompetitionsinhistory.AsanOlympian,Icantellyouthattheywillcarrythismemorywiththemforever.”
“Thisiconicstadiumisoneoftheworld’snewwonders.ItwasafittingsettingforanamazingOpeningCeremony,Ilookforwardtoanequallyexcitingandunforgettable16days.”
HeinVerbruggen,IOCMemberandChairmanoftheCoordinationCommissionfortheGamesoftheXXIXOlympiad
“OpeningceremonieshavealwaysbeenawayforhostcitiestowelcometheworldandfortheworldtogatherandsharetheOlympicspirit.ThisceremonytoopentheBeijingOlympicGameswasabreathtakingculminationofsevenyearsofplanningandpreparation.Theworldwillrememberthisforalongtime.”
“AsIwatchedtherehearsalsforthisceremony,Iknewthisnightwouldbeabsolutelyastonishing.However,theactualeventexceededallmyexpectations.Thiswasanunprecedentedandgrandsuccess.”