Perfect ending with 'A Letter to the Future'

(BEIJING, September 17) -- As the curtain dropped signaling the end of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, fans were left with a deep impression of an almost tangible "Letter to the Future," encompassing many hopes for the years to come. It was a perfect ending to both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, believe artistic directors Zhang Yimou and Zhang Jigang.

The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games showcased a prosperous, splendid China and the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games presented the respect that Chinese people hold for life and their reverence for the harmonious relationship between heaven, earth and human beings. According to Zhang Jigang, this emphatic arrangement makes all four ceremonies an organic whole.

Zhang Yimou pointed out that the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics and the Paralympics all gave special emphasis to interactive features. From the painting in the Olympic Opening Ceremony that incorporated both ancient and modern elements to the letter sent together by the audience and the athletes to the future in the Paralympic Closing Ceremony, this interactive characteristic was carried out at a level never seen before in previous Games.

"Four ceremonies as an organic whole" was not just an abstract concept but a tangible space for performance. For example, the classical painting was not only a theme in the Olympics Opening Ceremony, but also served as a stage upon which the action took place. The huge letter in the Paralympics Closing Ceremony embodied both the conceptual theme and the physical performance.

As these "living documents" unfolded, the greatness and depth of Chinese culture and the Olympic Games were highlighted. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletes -- the stars of these gatherings -- had numerous unforgettable moments that became integrated into ceremony themes.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games successfully concluded with an ideal ending: a letter that carries the dream of the entire human race into a bright future.