Usually, the Paralympic games were presented by regular presenters. This year, Channel 4 has taken an important step towards inclusion and has instead assembled an entire all-star disabled presenting team for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. This is not just a first for Channel 4 itself, but a global first for a broadcaster at a world-class sporting event in general.
At the end of 2018, Cris and I were living in Hangzhou China, working on a project for Cirque Du Soleil. Due to some unforeseen immigration issues, and the impending holidays we found ourselves with quite a bit of time off. When you are on tour or relocated for a project, the holidays tend to be about traveling rather than spending time with your family, for us this meant 4 days in Beijing prior to New Year’s.
Before discos, clubs and video rentals arrived in China, which they inevitably did, there was very little in the way of entertainment, and it was especially sparse for foreign residents. As in most homes across the world, television was the most popular medium and as such was used, in the 1980’s at least, as a means of conveying the ‘Party Line’.
In 1981 our family relocated from Scotland to Beijing, a place we knew virtually nothing about. We soon discovered that leisure activities were mostly those organised by the expat community, including film shows at Embassies, and local television.
© 2021 TheatreArtLife. All rights reserved.
Thank you for your interest in the TheatreArtLife Archives, this area is for members only.
Our contributors are currently writing more articles for you to enjoy.
To keep reading, all you have to do is become a subscriber and then you can read unlimited articles anytime.
Your investment will help us continue to ignite connections across the globe in live entertainment and build this community for industry professionals.