After all, the Chinese did invent fireworks so you'd expect quite the pyrotechnic performance during closing ceremonies. From my vantage point about 50 yards away from the Bird's Nest, it didn't disappoint.
For those of you who've been following along with my Olympic adventures in Beijing, you may recall how the impenetrable security at the opening ceremonies thwarted any attempts I made to see some of the fireworks on 08/08/08. But after spending the past two and a half weeks in China, I learned a few key facts that helped me gain entrance to the Olympic Green for this evenings closing ceremonies. The most important of which is that I don't speak Chinese and they don't speak English so if you just act like you're supposed to be going through a certain security check point they seem cool with it.
So yes, tune in to NBC later this evening to watch the taped version of what I just saw in person. (I had to rub it in a little bit.)
My morning started by taking in my final event of my Olympic adventures in China, 7th place water polo! It was cool. The Aussies make for a fun time.
Then we decided to see if we could finagle our way on to the Olympic Green (which you need a ticket to an event actually on the Green to get into) in order to watch USA play for the gold in basketball on a big screen.
We flashed our used water polo tickets and cruised right in without a problem. We promptly ate our 437 meal of the trip at McDonald's and found the USA vs. Spain game on the big screen in front of Samsung's hospitality house.
The atmosphere was pretty fun with 90% of the crowd cheering for Spain to win yet still cheering on the U.S. when they made a sick play.
After killing a few hours after the U.S. clinched gold, we made our way towards the Bird's Nest. It was ridiculous how close you could get to the venue, literally about 30-50 feet with a view inside. We ended up sitting on a patch of beautiful grass about 50-75 yards back to get a better view of the fireworks.
We made some new Chinese friends and enjoyed an amazing spectacle of lights above two of the the most amazing venues ever built.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me but my iPhone took a half descent shot of my view.
I was close enough to hear Jimmy Page ripping through A Whole Lotta Love. Oh, and I saw Yao Ming. That guy is big.
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BEIJING, CHINA-AUGUST 24: Chinese police watch the closing ceremony on a big scren at The Shuang Zone, sponsored by Coca Cola August 24, 2008 in Beijing. The Olympics games has ended in Beijing as London celebrates the way forward to 2012. Beijing is hoping that an Olympics fuelled sports frenzy among ordinary citizens will help fill the city's massively expanded competition venues after the Games. (Photo Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
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Fireworks explode over the National Stadium during the closing ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008. (AP Photo)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: A Chinese policeman stands guard as fireworks explode over the National Stadium during the closing ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Andrew Wong/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Chinese policemen stand guard outside the National Stadium during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Andrew Wong/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: A Chinese policeman stands guard as fireworks explode over the National Stadium during the closing ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Andrew Wong/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Fireworks go off during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: A Guard stands watch as fireworks go off during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Fireworks go off during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Fireworks go off during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 24: Fireworks go off during the Closing Ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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