The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sports Desk

China has presented a dramatic display of fireworks, music and dancing to mark the opening of its Beijing Olympics. The art performance of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, titled the "Beautiful Olympics", showcased China's 5,000-year civilization and its early encounters with the rest of the world.

Staged in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing on Friday night, the 50-minute show consisted of two parts, namely "Brilliant Civilization" and "Glorious."

The first part "Brilliant Civilization" displayed China's age-old civilization with actors performing Chinese scroll painting, Chinese characters, movable-type printing and the Silk Road.

Dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, hundreds of actors sang the traditional Peking Opera, depicting a festive scene.

Five Chinese long paintings accompanied with performers' singing of Kunqu, an ancient and traditional art selected into world intangible cultural heritage list. It has reproduced the prosperity of ancient China.

The second part, comprising three chapters of Starlight, Nature and Dream, highlighted China's modern achievements and promising future.

A total of 2,008 actors performed Taiji, the most representative shadow boxing in Chinese martial arts, forming an accurate circle which signifies grandness and consummation in the traditional Chinese conception.

When Chinese vocalist Liu Huan and British songstress Sarah Brightman presented the theme song "You and Me" on the top of a gigantic elevating "globe," the 90,000 spectators in the stadium burst into cheers, waving flashlights and banners.

Actors walked, ran and even somersaulted on nine rings covered with the "Lucky Clouds," as if they were free from gravity and full of magic power.

At the end of the spectacle, thousands of volunteers ran into the field carrying pictures of 2,008 smiling faces of children around the world, highlighting the Games' theme of "One World, One Dream."

Some 10,000 performers took part in the ceremony, watched on TV by an estimated one billion people, before athletes paraded around the national stadium.

Security was tight in the capital, and three US activists were arrested after holding a pro-Tibet protest. Larger rallies took place in Nepal and India.

Analysts say it is the most politicised Games since the Cold War era.

The build-up to the event was dogged by worries over pollution and criticism of China's rights record.

Beijing has faced pressure to improve civil liberties - with US President George W Bush among several world leaders to express concern over a crackdown on dissidents.

But after the controversy of the run-up, the opening ceremony certainly changed the focus of attention.

Some 90,000 fans packed the new national stadium - known as the Bird's Nest because of its steel lattice construction - and cheered the performers.

The choreographed show took seven years to plan, and costs are estimated to have hit a record-breaking $40bn (£20bn).

It began at eight minutes past eight on the evening of 8 August, reflecting the belief widespread in Asia that eight is a lucky number.

More than three hours later, China's President Hu Jintao officially declared the Games open.

Facts & figures

The 29th summer Olympic Games opened in Beijing on Friday night. The following are some facts and figures about the opening ceremony.

THE VENUE

The opening was held in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in the Olympic Green in northern Beijing.

The stadium was jointly designed by Herzog & de Meuron Design Office, and China Architecture Design & Research Group and ARUP. Its construction began on Dec. 24, 2003, and completed on June 30, 2008. Altogether 45,000 tonnes of steel was used to build its framework.

The stadium's seating capacity is 91,000, including 11,000 temporary seats. The floor space is 258,000 square meters.

GROUND FACILITIES

A major elevating platform at the center is 20 meters in diameter, weighing about 400 tonnes, and can reach 11.4 meters high at a speed of zero to 12 meters per minute.

Two moving lids on the stage serve as a roof.

A 36 by 22 meters LED screen is installed on the plates.

On the south and north sides are 30 complementary platforms, with each 3-meter-wide and 3-meter-long.

When the two lids move toward the center, the complementary platforms will rise and make up the stage.

Two sets of 22-meter-long LED scroll painting were installed, with a diameter of 22 meters.

With LED images shown on it, the scroll painting can stretch 147 meters long.

ABOVE-STAGE FACILITIES

Ten steel ropes are hung above the stage, weighing 40 tonnes in all and with a total length of 55 kilometers.

Among the 31 wire devices, 16 sets can carry a load of 300 kilograms each, with a load of 100 kilograms for each of the other 15. All can move at 3 meters per second and can function at the same time.

One hundred jumping facilities with a load capacity of 80 kilograms each are set under the rim of the roof edge, which can move at 3 meters per second and be operated simultaneously.

LED SCREEN ON THE GROUND

A 147 by 22 meters LED screen is laid at the center. Approximately 44,000 colorful LED beads are embedded with a distance of 600 millimeters between each two.

FIREWORKS CELEBRATION

-- 287 points on the top of National Stadium

-- 27 positions in the central area of National Stadium

-- 12 positions in the Olympic Green

-- 29 positions on the axis of the city

-- 4 places in other urban areas

MUSIC

A total of 110 minutes of music was created by 18 composers for the opening ceremony.

LIGHTING

Altogether 2,583 special lights are used and lighting equipment weighing more than 300 tonnes has been installed. Electricity load for lighting totals 6,440 kilowatt.

COSTUMES

A total of 15,153 sets of costumes in 47 styles.

REHEARSAL

Some performances have been rehearsed for 13 months. Volunteers began their first mass rehearsal in March 2008.