チャン・イーモウ氏、北京五輪で再び総合演出　０８年大会に続き

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】来月開幕する北京冬季五輪の開閉会式の総合演出を中国の映画監督チャン・イーモウ（張芸謀）氏（７１）が務めることになった。国営新華社通信が７日に報じた。チャン氏は２００８年の北京夏季五輪でも開閉会式の演出を担当した。（写真はチャン・イーモウ＜張芸謀＞氏）
　チャン氏は『紅いコーリャン』、『紅夢』、『英雄』などの作品で知られる著名な映画監督。
　新華社通信のインタビューでチャン氏は、１万５０００人のパフォーマーが参加した１４年前の式典と比べると新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大と寒さにより規模は縮小され、今回のパフォーマーは約３０００人になると明らかにした。
　一方で、式は「非常に革新的」なものになると強調。聖火の点火については「大胆なアイデア」を生かし、「環境保護や低炭素」といったコンセプトを取り入れたものになると述べた。
　中国は今週、選手や関係者が入る隔離環境「バブル」の運用を開始。何千人という選手やコーチ、五輪関係者、ボランティアはバブルにしばらくこもり、外の世界との物理的な接触が遮断される。
　バブルに入るにはワクチン接種を完了するか入国後２１日間の隔離が必要で、中では毎日の検査とマスクの常時着用が義務付けられる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/01/11-11:57）

Acclaimed Chinese film director Zhang Yimou, who masterminded the spectacular opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, will reprise that role for next month's Winter Games in the capital, organisers have announced.
Zhang, 71, promised a totally innovative unveiling, while conceding that the global pandemic and colder weather will limit its scale compared to 14 years ago, when 15,000 performers took part.
Being simple, just as in martial arts films, is like a master's sword, Zhang told state-run Xinhua news agency in an interview released late Friday.
It looks like a very simple stab, but with fateful power.
The director of Chinese classics such as Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern and martial-arts epics like Hero and House of Flying Daggers said around 3,000 performers would take part.
Zhang said it would feature a bold idea for the lighting of the Olympic torch that will take in concepts such as environmental protection and low carbon emission.
He gave no other clues, but state broadcaster CGTN separately quoted Zhang saying that Chinese Lunar New Year elements also would feature in the theme.
The February 4-20 Olympics coincide roughly with China's extended Lunar New Year holiday.
I'm very nervous. I think it's totally innovative and people will be surprised, Xinhua quoted Zhang as saying.
The stunning 2008 version featured 2,008 musicians beating ancient Chinese drums in perfect timing, along with thousands of others -- martial artists, dancers, opera singers, acrobats, and trapeze artists -- in lavish costumes.
The 2008 ceremony focused on China's rich history and civilisation but also was widely seen as an exclamation point underlining the country's re-emergence as a global force.
It's different now, Xinhua quoted Zhang as saying.
The image of the Chinese, and the rise of our national status, everything is totally different now.
In the wake of the pandemic, the world needs a new and strengthened vision, that is, people of the world come together to face difficulties and look forward to a bright future.
The Games will be held under the shadow of the pandemic and tension with the West over China's treatment of Tibetans, Muslim minority Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and an ongoing crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong.
The United States and some of its allies have announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games, meaning they will send no government representatives, a snub that has incensed Beijing.
The Games will be the world's strictest mass sporting event held since the global pandemic began two years ago.
China this past week activated its Olympic bubble, in which thousands of athletes, coaches and Games-related staff and volunteers will be cocooned.
Anyone entering the bubble must be fully vaccinated or face a 21-day quarantine to get in. Everyone inside will be tested daily and must wear face masks at all times.