International reaction to the Inauguration of Barack Obama
The international community paid unprecedented attention to the inauguration of Barack Obama. Millions of people, including citizens of the respective countries and American expatriates living in those countries, watched the Obama inauguration live on television and the Internet. In some countries, the Obama inauguration garnered as much viewership as the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Africa Kenya's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moses Wetang'ula, commented that the inauguration marked “a moment of great pride for Kenya.” Obama's father, Barack Obama, Sr., was born in Kenya and lived there for all but six years of his life. Obama still has relatives living in the country. Many celebrations occurred across Kenya, and in some areas, streets were even deserted during the inauguration. Americas Barbados offered free public viewings of the Obama inauguration on large screens in at least three locations throughout the country, including the Kensington Oval sports stadium, the George Washington House and the Bridgetown Hilton Hotel. Americans in Antigua Guatemala held a party featuring Obama's favorite music. Governor General Michaëlle Jean also gave a speech to mark the Obama inauguration during a Youth Dialogue held at Rideau Hall, the governor general's residence. Asia Millions of readers and viewers in the People's Republic of China followed the inauguration of Obama. The state-controlled China Central Television did a live broadcast of the President Obama's inaugural address with simultaneous translation into Mandarin Chinese of the inaugural address, along with providing enough of a delay to allow for the speech by briefly silencing the simultaneous translation. However, Chinese state television officials cut away abruptly from the live broadcast of the inaugural speech and switched to a discussion at the studio when President Obama mentioned that "earlier generations faced down fascism and communism." The Xinhua News Agency website provided the full, uncensored text in the English language, along with a censored translation that lacked the reference to communism, as well as Obama's remarks about "leaders ... who ... blame their society's ills on the West" and "cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent." Indonesians and Americans in Jakarta watched the inauguration at a free midnight ball, featuring performances by students from State Elementary School Menteng 01, which Obama attended as a child. The mayor of Obama expressed interest in having President Obama visit the city. Elsewhere in Japan, the Associated Press reported that Okinawans were hopeful that the new President would take actions on issues associated with U.S. military bases in Okinawa, and several news organizations reported that Japanese citizens were hopeful that Obama might make significant steps towards eliminating nuclear weapons. Europe Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë and United States Ambassador to France, Craig Roberts Stapleton, hosted a viewing party for approximately 1,000 people at the landmark Hôtel de Ville. In Berlin, about 1500 guests attended the inaugural ball held in the "Goya" club, possibly the largest outside of the United States. Obama's distant relatives gathered in Moneygall, County Offaly, where his ancestors had lived during the 1800s. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party faithful living in Ireland threw a bash in Dublin. Brian Cowen, head of the government of Ireland, welcomed "a day of joy and celebration in Washington, across the United States and across the world." Pope Benedict XVI sent President Obama a telegram for his presidential inauguration day. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown heralded the inauguration saying: "The whole world is watching the inauguration of President Obama, witnessing a new chapter in both American history and the world's history. He's not only the first black American president but he sets out with the determination to solve the world's problems." In the UK, the inauguration was also shown to housemates competing in this years' Celebrity Big Brother, breaking the rules of isolation from the outside world. London held an inauguration ball for an estimated 1,300 attendees. Sikua noted that Americans originate in all corners of the world, including the Solomon Islands, and noted that Solomon Islanders will pray that God will continue to give Obama strength, wisdom and good people to support him in endeavours for his country and for the world.<ref name=stimes/>