Soundwave on 08 September 2013
Japan had the Olympics in 1998 (Winter games) so it's not like they don't have a relatively recent benchmark. No one is going to outspend the Chinese opening ceremony, that was more of a show-off ceremony to cement their rising on the world stage and the cost for it was absurd.
Syndy (2000) and the UK (2012) had very nice ceremonies without having to break the bank.
