国产av不卡一区二区_欧美xxxx做受欧美_成年人看的毛片_亚洲第一天堂在线观看_亚洲午夜精品久久久中文影院av_8x8ⅹ国产精品一区二区二区_久久精品国产sm调教网站演员_亚洲av综合色区无码一二三区_成人免费激情视频_国产九九九视频

Things got off to a bang with an initial firework display which lit up Beijing's skyline, followed by a total of 2,008 energetic drummers beating a countdown.

Then the crowd was treated to an amazing sequence of intricately-choreographed, beautifully-lit vignettes which took them through 5,000 years of Chinese history and culture.

After these performances, it was time for the athletes themselves to take centre stage. In keeping with tradition, Olympic founders Greece led the 204 competing nations into the stadium.

China's 639 athletes entered last behind towering flag bearer Yao Ming, to a thunderous reception from the crowd.

Finally, the cauldron was lit by a jet of fire from Chinese Olympic hero Li Ning, who had been hoisted up to the roof of the stadium on wires.

China, of course, was not alone in watching the opening ceremony. British newspaper The Guardian said the show "outdid all of its predecessors in numbers, colour, noise and expense."

The Financial Times was equally impressed. "No country ever has – or surely will – match the Chinese in effort, human power, synchronicity, ingenuity and, it has to be said, money they were willing to put into what was once a little show."

No pressure on the next Olympic host city then! With just four years to go, the London Olympic organisers have promised to deliver an equally inspirational ceremony. Let's hope they can pull it off.