The Opening Ceremony 开幕式
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.
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GLOSSARY 词汇表
eager spectators热切的观众们
things got off to a bang非常成功的开始
skyline天际
energetic充满活力的
countdown倒数计时
sequence次序
intricately-choreographed复杂的编排
vignettes小插曲，小片断
take centre stage到舞台的中心
flag bearer旗手
thunderous reception雷鸣般的接待
cauldron大锅，在这里指奥运体育场内的主火炬
hoisted被吊起来
outdid超越了
predecessors前任，这里指前任奥运主办国家
synchronicity同步性
ingenuity独创性
inspirational鼓舞人心的
towering高大的
pull it off圆满完成
