The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Beijing

Smiley-face fireworks bursting in the skies all over Beijing.

This is the latest glimpse into the opening ceremony on Aug. 8 for the Beijing Olympics.

Cai Guoqiang, the main artistic director for opening ceremony's fireworks show, unveiled some of his plans Wednesday just 2 ½ weeks before the games begin.

And it won't just be the privileged few with a ticket to the opening ceremony who will feel part of the event, with the fireworks to be launched from more than 1,800 sites around the city, including major urban areas from Tiananmen Square to the Bird's Nest stadium.

"The fireworks are not just for people who have tickets to the opening ceremonies," said Cai, a famous Chinese artist. "We want the Olympic spirit to be seen and felt throughout the entire city on the evening of the opening ceremonies."

With fireworks bursting into smiley faces in the air and trained smiling faces on volunteers, China's authoritarian government is trying hard to soften its image for the Olympics and its worldwide audience.

Part of the opening ceremony will also feature fireworks in the shape of a yellow dragon with red peony flowers in the background.

Meanwhile, the central government on Wednesday posted a notice on its Website ordering advertisers to not show adverts that are obscene, pornographic, or based on superstition.

Advertisers need to be especially careful with adverts that deal with national sovereignty and security, religion, or reconstruction after the Sichuan earthquake. The notice said "the way the Olympic advertising market operates directly affects the nation's image."