Special attention needs be paid to the technology test of all equipment and the assessment of the broadcasting effect in the final stages before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, said Dimitris Papioannou, director of the Athens Olympic opening ceremony.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Papioannou said the technology test, including on lights and all other equipment, is very important, noting the danger of a repeat of the potential failure during the flame lighting process in Sydney in 2000.

Filming and TV broadcasting effect have to be tested again as the attendants of the ceremony will be limited compared to the billions of audience who will watch the games on television across the world, he said.

As it is impossible to make drastic changes of the performance now at the last moment, some redundant parts still need to be cut to make the program even better, said Papaioannou.

By presenting the splendid ancient Greek civilization in the two-hour opening ceremony, Papaioannou was widely lauded by the media and audience across the world.

The director said he was flattered when Zhang Yimou, director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, visited him when he was in Beijing last year. The two discussed a little bit on the opening ceremony.

"I was really flattered when Zhang told me that the great success of the opening ceremony for Athens Olympic Games posed a big challenge to the successor," Papaioannou said.

Papaioannou said all the directors would be under great pressure before the opening of the Olympic Games. "I was under great pressure and I felt that I was dead at those days," said Papaioannou.

"I like the works of Zhang Yimou and I think he will present a strong opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games. He is very experienced and knows what to do," he said.

Some people hold that the lightening of the flame is very important for the opening ceremony, but Papaioannou doesn't agree. The Greek director believes that the simplest way is the best and that is why he made it very simple in the 2004 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the director said the host country needs to portray something special during the ceremony to touch the hearts of the audience across the world.

"I think a successful performance will move people, not just impress people. The directors always want people to feel something. And the audience want to see the portrait of the country and to see something specific from the opening ceremony, not another big show," he said.

Papaioannou was given much credit for turning the Athens opening ceremony into a coherent drama of ancient Aegean civilization and Greek myths. Even four years after the Athens games, many people still have fresh memories about the dramatic effect of the opening ceremony.

"Drama is a Greek word and was born in Greece. It will be very foolish not to use it," said the director.

However, Papaioannou said he was not an Olympic fan and had never watched the games and the opening ceremony before he accepted the job as the director of the opening ceremony.

"I like art, the movies, theaters, concerts but not the big shows. However, it is a big challenge to be the director for such a big occasion, " said Papaioannou, "I cannot say no to this chance."

But the director said he will watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games.

"I am curious now. I might watch the opening ceremony in my hotel room on an small island in Aegean," Papaioannou said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2008)