Final answer:
Government officials, like heads of state, symbolize the heart during opening and closing ceremonies by providing a unifying presence and ensuring the continuity of the event, analogous to the heart's role in the human body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The heart represents which part of the opening and closing ceremony in the industrial society can be thought of as a metaphor, where the heart in a human body pumps blood and sustains life, similarly, during opening and closing ceremonies, especially significant events like the Olympic games, different elements play critical roles in bringing the event to life and giving it meaning. Considering various roles such as performers, audience, organizers, and government officials, the government officials, particularly heads of state like queens, kings, presidents, or emperors, often represent the heart of these ceremonies. Their presence and participation, much like the heart in our body, provide a central symbol and a unifying force for national pride and identity.
For instance, Queen Elizabeth II opened the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and Japan's Emperor Naruhito performed a similar role for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This visibility and the ceremonial role they play is analogous to the central and symbolic role of the heart, ensuring the continuity and legitimacy of the ceremonies just as the heart ensures the continuation of life in the body.