"Nobody notices our voices, and that's the biggest success."

Source: Beijing Youth Daily

Ji Xiaojun (center) and his friends attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics

At the end of the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the burden in the heart of Ji Xiaojun, the English announcer of the opening ceremony, finally fell. After three months of busy work, he could not hide his excitement. After broadcasting the night's last words, "good night, he and his companions who were sitting next to him waved in celebration.

This is the second time that Ji Xiaojun, the host of CGTN of CCTV, has taken on this heavy responsibility after the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were broadcast in English. Sitting in the broadcast room, Ji Xiaojun could vaguely feel the enthusiasm and excitement of the audience. As a participant and witness of this grand ceremony, this feeling was deeply rooted in his heart.

On February 9, Ji Xiaojun was exclusively interviewed by a reporter from Beijing Youth Daily, and for the "new identity" of the Double Olympic English Broadcast, Ji Xiaojun modestly said, "There are too many excellent hosts, and I am very lucky to get such an opportunity." Although he has long been an experienced host and has experience in broadcasting many large-scale events such as the Olympic Games, the Asian Games, the Universiade, and the Youth Olympic Games, Ji Xiaojun said that every time he receives a task, he is still trembling and must go all out to complete it. In Ji Xiaojun's view, the criterion for the success of the broadcast is "no one notices our voice, the broadcast is completely integrated throughout the ceremony, this is our greatest success."

mentality

"Moderate nervousness

It makes me more focused."

Beiqing Daily: What do you think is the difference between hosting the opening broadcast of the Olympic Games and hosting other events?

Ji Xiaojun: This is the Olympics, the world's attention, which may be the biggest difference. But more likely to be the same, for us, any activity is a very important activity, the requirements for our concentration, professionalism are very high, we must pay great attention.

Of course, the Olympics are particularly important, so the pressure will be great invisibly.

I wasn't so nervous when I rehearsed, but when we arrived at the venue at one o'clock in the afternoon on the opening day, the invisible pressure came. I said that I had done a lot of similar large-scale activities, but on that day, I was unconsciously a little nervous. At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games, my palms were sweating during the first three sentences, and when the first sentence of the 2022 Winter Olympics was broadcast, I knew that my voice was tight and stressful. At this point, not being nervous is problematic, and moderate tension can make us more focused. In terms of scale, in terms of everyone's attention, this is undoubtedly a very important event, and even how you describe its importance is not exaggerated.

Beiqing Daily: As an experienced host, what are your unique ways to cope with pressure?

Ji Xiaojun: The experience has some help, I think this experience is more about how we should deal with the manuscript when we get it, and what kind of state we hope to adjust the rhythm and voice, which may help. Because some of the previous activities may have a good effect and can be continued, I can refer to the live atmosphere of these previous major events to simulate and imagine what kind of effect my voice will present in such an environment, and better integrate into the state. In this respect, experience may play some role. But in addition, how to deal with this pressure, probably the most effective way for me is not to think about this thing, we don't have much time to think, you always want to say how much pressure on you such a big thing, then it is distracted, those are all distractions. All of our attention and energy at that time had to focus on the manuscript in front of me, and how to make sure that the sound we presented was the best and integrated into the whole opening ceremony was the most important thing.

business

Organically integrated with the on-site environment

It's important to be measured

Beiqing Daily: Compared with hosting programs on weekdays, there are actually not many words broadcasting the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, where do you think the most difficult place is?

Ji Xiaojun: The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games has a strong sense of ceremony, and we are creating this sense of ceremony in every link. The broadcast is small, but critical and demanding. We are part of the holistic ritual and need to be integrated into the holistic ritual, which is what is required of us. If we get the job of broadcasting done, no one notices our voices, and the broadcast is completely integrated throughout the ceremony, this may be our greatest success. To say simple, but also simple, is that there is a manuscript in front of you to read, but it is also difficult, you have to ensure that your voice state is ritualistic, and such an environment and occasion is organically integrated, there can be no sense of abruptness, and you only have one chance.

If we want to be advanced in the process of broadcasting, it is crucial to grasp the proportions. For example, when the Chinese team came out, the audience and the audience in front of the TV set were expectant, how do we put that sense of strength, or even the shared sense of expectation, into it? How much to put? These are all very subtle, and you need to grasp this degree. Difficult in these places.

Beiqing Daily: After the end of the day, how did you celebrate for the first time?

Ji Xiaojun: It is really a stone that has landed, after all, it is such a big activity and such a high degree of attention. You only have one chance, and the sound out is in what state, so the pressure is enormous. The last sentence I broadcast was "good night", and the last sentence of the Chinese was "Good night to everyone", when the microphone was still open, and the three of us could only wave to each other, which meant that we had become, and finally completed the work satisfactorily, and waited out of the room to dare to celebrate.

Sentiment

The double Austrian English broadcast is only the result

It was gratifying to have successfully completed the task

Beiqing Daily: For you, how do you feel differently about the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games and the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics? What's the change in mindset?

Ji Xiaojun: Of course, the age has changed, but from a business point of view, the requirements for us are the same. Whether it is the 2008 Olympic Games or the 2022 Winter Olympics, we use the state of voice and language to present such a sense of ceremony. The difference is that 2008 doesn't have much to learn from, and you're looking for a sense of ritual, but there's no reference to what constitutes the right state of sound. Before 2008, I hosted a big event, the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai, and that was the first time I did such a large event broadcast. That time, when I first received the task, I thought that I didn't need to wear makeup, didn't have to appear on camera, and didn't have to memorize the manuscript, so I read it directly, which was quite relaxed. But the more rehearsed, the more sweaty I became, and I gradually knew how big this thing was and how much meaning it carried. So that time in 2007 was completely black. After that experience, I was mentally prepared for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games, but you also don't know what is right, and you need to constantly explore yourself.

By 2022, it is a little different, because there is 2008, including the series of large-scale events such as the Asian Games, the Universiade, and the Youth Olympic Games, all the way through, I probably know what the state of my voice should look like and which direction I should go.

Beiqing Daily: What does it mean to you to be a double Olympic English broadcaster?

Ji Xiaojun: Participating in the opening ceremony of the Double Olympic Games is just a result, and I will not think too much about this matter. All I have to do is get it done carefully. When I go back to think about it, I think it is too rare to have such an opportunity, and it is a great honor for me to have such a trust. I cherish this opportunity, and since it has been handed over to me, I will seriously do it well. I am very pleased with the successful completion of the task. For me personally, this is the glory of a lifetime.

Text/Reporter Tian Wanting

Courtesy photo/Ji Xiaojun Co-ordinator/Man Yi