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Zhang Yimou to Direct Beijing 2008

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games get professional help from acclaimed filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who will direct the opening and closing ceremonies. Yimou will feature Steven Spielberg on his team as an artistic adviser, probably making the upcoming ceremonies the best we even saw. A member of China`s "Fifth generation" of directors, Zhang is best known in the west for his 1991 film "Raise the Red Lantern" and his 2004 title "House of Flying Daggers," both of which were nominated for Oscars.

"I`m very honored to become executive director of the ceremonies," Zhang, 54, said at a ceremony at the headquarters of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. I thank BOCOG for trusting me with this huge task. To complete it will require the efforts of the whole team and the advisers from home and abroad. I make a solemn promise to the Chinese people I will complete the task beautifully and successfully."

Zhang will also be able to draw on the expertise of Australian Ric Birch, who directed the highly successful opening and closing ceremonies at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. More than 400 schemes for the opening ceremony were submitted to BOCOG and elements and personnel from the best five teams have been commissioned to produce the event.