Beijing Olympics “Live Site” opens this Friday (8 August) at Nothcote Shopping Centre

A special “live site” for the Beijing Olympics gets underway on Friday night at the Northcote Shopping Centre with an opening night of entertainment from 6pm.

“North Shore City Beijing Olympics Live” will allow the public to watch and celebrate the Olympics on a 20sq.m outdoor screen all free of charge, and also enjoy a variety of entertainment during the “Opening Night” event and over this weekend.

A wide range of entertainment and activities is scheduled with bands, and performances from cultural and sporting groups on a stage erected beside the huge outdoor screen.

The Opening Night this Friday, 8th August from 6pm – 9:30pm features a Lion Dance, performances from Chinese cultural groups, Dragon Dances and the five Olympic Mascots. There is also groups performing on stage on Saturday and Sunday from 12noon – 2pm.

The stars of the “live site” this weekend could well be five large scale Olympic Mascots which have been brought in from China by the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China. 

The Mascots are designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends.  They also embody the characteristics of China’s most popular animals – the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetian Antelope, the Swallow and the Olympic Flame.

Each of the Mascots has a rhyming two-syllable name – a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China.  Beibei is the fish, Jingling is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope, and Nini is the Swallow.

When you put their names together – Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni – they say “Welcome to Beijing”, offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of the mascots as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.

The Olympics Mascots will be in the Northcote Shopping Centre for Friday’s Opening Night of “North Shore City Beijing Olympics Live”  from 6pm – 9:30pm, and also this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 12noon – 2pm.

The broadcast and activities at “North Shore City Beijing Olympics Live” are all free for the public.  The site has been made possible by the support of North Shore City Council, The Lion Foundation and the Northcote Shopping Centre.  It will certainly be the best place in Auckland to watch and enjoy the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

Dates & Details:

Live Broadcasts - ‘North Shore City Beijing Olympics Live’

8 – 24 August                            the entire Olympics live on the Giant 20 sq.m Screen

                                                12noon – 2am Daily

Opening Night - ‘North Shore City Beijing Olympics Live’

Friday, 8th August                    6:00pm - 9:30pm              

1st Weekend Activities - ‘North Shore City Beijing Olympics Live’

Saturday, 9th August                12noon - 3pm

Sunday, 10th August                10am - 3pm

ends 

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