The 2008 Beijing Olympics began officially on Friday 8th August 2008 at 8pm in front of a crowd of 90,000 eager spectators in the Bird's Nest stadium.
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.
译文:
奥运会开幕式
2008年8月8日晚上8点正，2008北京奥运会在鸟巢体育的9万热切现场观众面前正式开幕了。
开场的烟花照亮了北京广阔的天空，成功拉开了开幕式的帷幕。接下来的2008人组成的激情四射的鼓手敲响了倒计时。
然后是一系列编排复杂奇妙而不可思议的片段，让观众充分领略到了5000年悠久的中国历史文化。
表演之后，就到了运动员入场时间。按照传统，奥运会创立国希腊带头引领204个参赛国家入场。
中国的639个运动员最后入场，由巨人姚明当旗手，全场掌声欢呼不断。
最后，中国奥运会英雄李宁被钢丝吊到场馆顶端喷射点燃了主火炬。
当然，除了中国外，还有全世界的眼光都在观看着这场开幕式。英国的“卫报”发表评论说“在数量、颜色、音效和花费上都超越了上届奥运会”。
《金融时报》发表评论“没有哪个国家，也不会有哪个国家在奥运会上所付出的努力、人力、同步性和独创性方面可以和中国相比。必须要说的是，他们所乐意的资金投入只是表演的一个小方面而已。"
下一届的奥运会主办城市有压力了！只有四年的时间，伦敦奥运会组织人员承诺他们会举办一个同样鼓舞人心的开幕式。让我们期待他们能圆满成功吧。