Olympic Opening Ceremonies: What they speak about a county's culture

Tonight it begins... the 2010 Winter Olympics will kick off in a few hours with the opening ceremony. As I anxiously await what Canada will bring tonight, I can't help but fondly look back on the breathtaking memory of the 2008 opening ceremony in Beijing.


Beijing's ceremony was awesome. For instance, China had about one bazillion percussionists who all moved and played as one. People across the world raved about the spectacular choreography and their ability to look so unified, despite their number. But, this ceremony was only demonstrating the heart of Chinese culture and how they communicate.


Chinese culture is a collective culture. In the US, our culture is predominantly individualistic. We value autonomy & individuality. Collective cultures, on the other hand, place value on the group over the individual. Togetherness and the needs of the group are a priority. For this reason, the multitude of drummers working in unison simply told a story about Chinese communication & culture.

Needless to say, I'm anxious to see what tonight's ceremony will illustrate about our friends to the north.