How many, watching the Beijing Olympic Games, are bearing in mind Miss Congeniality's conversion to enunciating "World Peace" as her top wish for the world? A  streetwise policewoman, delegated by her boss to go undercover as a Beauty Pageant Competitor because of a threat of violence at the Pageant, she first states (if I remember correctly) that more police on the beat for the New York Police Force, as well as other professional police concerns, are her top desires. By the end of the competition, however, in its final rounds, she sincerely joins the other competitors in claiming "World Peace" as her own top priority too.

The highlight of the magnificent opening ceremony to the Beijing Olympics, for me, was a moment that possibly all television cameras may not have shown.

The Spanish television channel we were watching, TV1, captured a moment which could leave no viewer in doubt that -- for the Chinese people, as represented by those caught on screen then -- peace, harmony and the joy of peace and harmony and fellowship with others are what they intensely desire.

We had seen the picture of a single dove on the floor of the stadium, composed of hundreds of performers. We had seen the image of the "bird's nest" stadium in which the ceremony was taking place also reproduced on the same stadium floor by a multitude of performers. A little girl had swung on a trapeze above the stadium like a flying dove of peace herself. The words of the Beijing Olympics theme song, "You and me" (lyrics and music both composed by Chen Qigang) had been sung by British soprano Sarah Brightman and popular Chinese singer Liu Huan, matching actions to words by taking hands as the song closed.

The President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, had delivered his inspiring, well-chosen and well-received speech, which faced up to and deftly turned to idealistic advantage the several controversies which have had media attention in the run-up to the 2008 Summer Games. "Beijing! You have chosen as the theme of these Games One World, One Dream. That is what we are tonight. As one world, we grieved with you over the tragic earthquake in Sichuan Province. We were moved by the great courage and solidarity of the Chinese people. As one dream, may these Olympic Games bring you joy, hope and pride."

Speaking next to the athletes, Mr Rogge said, "These Games belong to you. Let them be the athletes’ Games. Have fun!" He reminded us that the Olympic Games, "are about the peaceful gathering of 204 National Olympic Committees—regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religions or political system"; that the Olympic values are, "excellence, friendship and respect".

Again speaking directly to the athletes, but for us all to hear and note the determination of the IOC to address a significant internal problem, he gave the following exhortation. "Remember that you are role models for the Youth of the World. Reject doping and cheating. Make us proud of your achievements and your conduct."

Finally, with words that could apply to the Olympic Games alone or be interpreted as a prophecy about the future place of China in the world, he concluded, "Beijing, you are a host to the present and a gateway to the future."

The Olympic oath was then taken by representatives of the athletes and the judges.

Immediately following, the focus was on white-clad dancers rising up and down, fluttering their arms and hands to represent the winging of doves, and the accompanying repetition of the sung words, "Flying in the sky of peace for ever", sung sweetly and with longing.

And here came the magic moment, when all previous preoccupations must surely have been wiped away, all fears about the true intentions behind the 2008 Olympics on the part of educated Chinese people replaced, for those who were lucky enough to see what happened next. Groups of Chinese members of the audience delightedly began to copy the arm and hand gestures symbolizing peace, and this was picked up by more and more people, slightly uncertain at first, but becoming more and more confident, as they asserted their personal feelings in the moment.

Then the last torch bearer, Chinese athlete Li Ning, ran suspended high in the air around the structure of the stadium, seeming to roll out before him a carpet of video clips from previous stages of the Olympic Torch Relay. Then, in a final vigorous gesture, he set alight a train of fire which rushed to leap up and fire the Olympic torch itself, to dominate the stadium for the duration of the Games. "Spectacular!", the Spanish commentator exclaimed. But more moving and infinitely memorable was that unrehearsed event that had occurred in the paid seats around the stadium, Chinese people showing the world that they too want world peace; that world peace is their own primary and pre-eminent desire.

Gillian Bickley, Hong Kong, from the Pyrenees

Verner Bickley's book, "Forward to Beijing! A Guide to the Summer Olympics", edited by Gillian Bickley, is available in a first print edition and a second E-book edition.

You may like to visit the following websites for more information. www.geocities.com/proversehk

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Distributed by the Chinese University Press of Hong Kong. (See Website: http://www.chineseupress.com/asp/e_Book_card.asp?BookID=2318&Lang=E )

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