Expo logo fireworks display not seen on broadcast

• Source: Global Times
• [10:12 May 06 2010]
• Comments

By Ye Jun

Millions of spectators across China watched the grand Expo opening with their heads glued to the tube on April 20, but many are not satisfied with the coverage as they missed a certain fireworks display.

Various media outlets covered the specially designed firework, whetting Expo lovers' appetites, but the red and green firework in the shape of the Expo logo never aired on TV.

Taking a total of three years, it was jointly designed and manufactured with top notch technologies by Hunan Dancing Fireworks Group and the local Huan Shi Information Technology Company.

The fireworks crew confirmed that the Expo logo fireworks were shot into the air twice at the square in front of the Shipping Pavilion in Puxi, just opposite the observation deck in Pudong, each lasting for about two seconds, according to Wednesday's Shanghai Morning Post.

"I saw the logo from the 19th floor of a building, and it was spectacular. The logo display was relatively low compared to the other fireworks, so it would be difficult for people on the ground to see it," said Liu Dong, a local resident.

Wang Zheng, a director at the East Movie Channel, told the Global Times that poor coordination and technical issues such as camera angles and lack of cameras may be to blame for the lapse on the screen.

"Live situations can be difficult to get hold of, especially in a case like this," said Wang. He also cited a similar example during last October's National Day celebration broadcast, when TV cameras failed to capture a flock of doves, an interna-tional symbol of peace.