Let the Comparisons Begin: Beijing 2008 Versus London 2012

London’s upcoming Olympic Games will be watched carefully in China – not just for the sport, but also for comparison to the show that Beijing put on four years ago. At any rate, the Opening Ceremony will be vastly different, since Beijing fiddled with the weather to keep rain away and London wants some precipitation at their ceremony, even if they need to create it themselves.

The Mascots

Beijing had five while London has two. China offered up cute and cuddly while I’m pretty sure the UK pair will give children nightmares. However, Wenlock as Usain Bolt definitely wins on all accounts.

The Stadiums

The Bird's Nest and the Water Cube go up against prestigious London sporting venues like Wembley Stadium, Eton Dorney and Wimbledon. For a slideshow on a comparison of all the Beijing and London venues, look here.

London vs. Beijing Pollution

The lead-up to the 2008 Olympics got a bit polluted by concerns over the air quality. Expats who were around at the time may remember enjoying the blue skies and light traffic that were strictly engineered by the city in an attempt to achieve pollution targets. Those targets, which were lower than the norm, still don't come close to London's regular targets.

The Opening Ceremonies

Beijing went for grandeur and pomp for their Opening Ceremony, which was only slightly tarnished by the lies. London is going in a different direction entirely with livestock and rain and the general theme of idyllic village life. With the director of the UK-based films Trainspotting and 28 Days Later… in charge of the show, we’re not sure what to expect. We’re just hoping he doesn’t play it safe, especially since the ceremony is being dubbed the "Isles of Wonder," after a speech from The Tempest that sounds like a soliloquy on hallucinogens.

As long as the animals don't end up cooked (like in Seoul in 1988) and Boris Johnson doesn't offend anyone (as he supposedly did during the 2008 Closing Ceremony hand-off), all should be good, but can Danny Boyle make it great?

Photos: jamaipanese.com, steelguru.com, gooselane.com, businessweek.com