Abstract:
Through the semiotic analysis of discourse-image-meaning-Tao, the narration modes of the opening ceremony of the two Olympic Games, 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are compared, trying to find the hidden narrative logic in the context of globalization variations. It is found that the opening ceremony of the two Olympics showed differences and succession in the aspects of symbols, visual rhetoric, national image and theme representations. The 2008 Summer Olympics, by using national cultural performances, constructed the image of an revitalized ancient civilization trying to integrate into the international community and a return to the center of the world; while the 2022 Winter Olympics adopted the way of collaborative conversation with the world, which shaped the image of a confident and responsible major country, aiming to unite countries around the world and build a human community with a shared future. Although there were differences in discourse, images and meanings, the core values of the two opening ceremonies were essentially the same, both of which were the concept of peace and harmony. The changes of "discourse, images and meanings" in the opening ceremony of the two Olympic Games were the voice innovation for the changes of China's international communication in response to the theme change of globalization, and its constant thought of "peace and harmony" remained consistent with China's foreign policy as well. The research suggests that the harmony narrative of "peace and harmony" has great competitive potential in international communication as its narrative logic and successful experience on the opening ceremonies of the two Beijing Olympic Games has revealed a possible approach to tell a good story about China, and also showed the importance of the "peace and harmony" thought to sports public diplomacy.