“The world gave me eight minutes and I will give the world a surprise,” said renowned producer/director Zhang Yimou, who is gearing up to put on a stunning eight-minute show at the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympics.

Some 130 Chinese artists will present the segment he created at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.

Zhang said, “The show is mainly dancing and movements that everyone will be able to understand. My aim is to show the world that Chinese culture is also international.”

The segment is presented to introduce Beijing as the host of the next Olympics, in 2008.

Jiang Xiaoyu, vice chairman of Beijing Olympics organizing committee, said, “The national anthem will be played for about 49 seconds. Then Athens will hand over the Olympic flag to Beijing officials.” The performance will follow the passing of the flag.

This is the second time Zhang Yimou has worked on an Olympics-related program. In 2001, he directed a short film to promote Beijing’s Olympic bid.

A medal winner himself at such prestigious venues as the Cannes and Venice international film festivals for films including Raise the Red Lantern and To Live, Zhang has also been chosen to direct the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

(CCTV.com, China.org.cn August 26, 2004)