Olympics Opening Ceremonies

[Mael Coluim]

With the changing demographics in the US, Texas may secede and rejoin Mexico.

[mudd]

With the changing demographics in the US, Texas may secede and rejoin Mexico.

Or more likely, Mexico will join Texas. (Sorry moderators. I'll be good now.)

But seriously, I was also enjoying the pipes and keep waiting for them to come around again in the cycle. I kind of felt it was maybe China's way of recognizing Scotland, realizing that there may be some that wish the Scots were marching on separately.

I also thought it was interesting that Hong Kong marched in on their own. I thought they were part of China now.

[Morris at Heathfield]

I kind of felt it was maybe China's way of recognizing Scotland, realizing that there may be some that wish the Scots were marching on separately.

I really doubt China wants to encourage that sort of thing. Which is why I am also puzzled that they still allow Hong Kong to field a separate team. *shrug*

But enough of politics. I bet, for many Chinese, this was the first time they'd ever heard the pipes or, if it was shown on CCTV, seen a kilt. I wonder if pipe bands will start springing up around China in the near future. There's already at least one appropriate tartan for a Chinese pipe band. They'd have to import it from Scotland (Strathmore Woollen Company), though.

[highlander_Daz]

Scotland is part of "Team GB"

[Galician]

I really doubt China wants to encourage that sort of thing. Which is why I am also puzzled that they still allow Hong Kong to field a separate team. *shrug*

But enough of politics. I bet, for many Chinese, this was the first time they'd ever heard the pipes or, if it was shown on CCTV, seen a kilt. I wonder if pipe bands will start springing up around China in the near future. There's already at least one appropriate tartan for a Chinese pipe band. They'd have to import it from Scotland (Strathmore Woollen Company), though.

The decision to let Hong Kong field a separate team might be analogous to how Puerto Rico has its own there, though it's a U.S. territory.

On that note, when Hong Kong was handed back to China ten years ago, the final ceremony was the lowering of the Union Jack to the sounds of a band of bagpipers slowly playing "Auld Lang Syne" and continuing as they slowly marched off to a British naval vessel to depart. I myself found that it very moving. I'm sure that thousands of Chinese were watching that ceremony, and so have heard bagpipes and seen kilts at least fairly recently.

[macwilkin]

On that note, when Hong Kong was handed back to China ten years ago, the final ceremony was the lowering of the Union Jack to the sounds of a band of bagpipers slowly playing "Auld Lang Syne" and continuing as they slowly marched off to a British naval vessel to depart. I myself found that it very moving. I'm sure that thousands of Chinese were watching that ceremony, and so have heard bagpipes and seen kilts at least fairly recently.

More recently than that, as the Hong Kong Police still maintain a pipe band, and there are at least two civilian pipe bands there today:

Those pipers, btw, were from the Black Watch, who were part of the last British garrison of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong.

"Auld Lang Syne" was also the tune played by the Indian Army when the last British regiment, the Somerset Light Infantry, left Bombay in 1947 after Independence. The Black Watch played it in a similar scene when they left the new nation of Pakistan.

Regards,

Todd

[Galician]

More recently than that, as the Hong Kong Police still maintain a pipe band, and there are at least two civilian pipe bands there today:

Those pipers, btw, were from the Black Watch, who were part of the last British garrison of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong.

"Auld Lang Syne" was also the tune played by the Indian Army when the last British regiment, the Somerset Light Infantry, left Bombay in 1947 after Independence. The Black Watch played it in a similar scene when they left the new nation of Pakistan.

Regards,

Todd

Interesting to know! My point was simply that the pipers were probably seen across the entire nation. I'm sure that HK residents were somewhat familiar with it after a century of British rule.

[sharpdressedscot]

With the changing demographics in the US, Texas may secede and rejoin Mexico.

And the rest of western US, as it was also part of Mexico.



I didn't see any kilts nor pipers at the opening ceremony... conspiracy!!