The Olympic rings are lifted during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird’s Nest.

Chinese President Hu Jintao also present in the ceremonies. Once-reclusive China has commandeered the world stage, celebrating its first-time role as Olympic host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to open the Summer Games.

Drummers line the floor of the National Stadium known as the Bird’s Nest during the opening ceremonies. Fireworks illuminate the sky over the National Stadium.

Now ascendent as a global power, China welcomed scores of world leaders to Friday’s opening ceremony, which is being watched by 91,000 people at the eye-catching National Stadium and a potential audience of 4 billion worldwide.

It was depicted as the largest, costliest extravaganza in Olympic history, bookended by barrages of some 30,000 fireworks. Hong Kong singer Kelly Chen performs during the opening of the Olympics equestrian event in Hong Kong.

Among the glittering roster of notables on hand: President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. [Yahoo News]

Tags: beijing, beijing 2008, olympics

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