Last night, Beijing welcomed the world as it opened the games of the 29th Olympiad. It did so with an Opening Ceremony more ambitious and spectacular in scope than any in recent memory. It is fair to say that no one who tuned in last night knew what to expect. It is also fair to say that everyone was awed by what they saw. The ceremony would reach back into China’s rich history and then, in the second part, create a picture of modern China.

The Opening Ceremonies began with a bang, literally. This is nor at all surprising considering that China, the host country, invented gunpowder. And they were not shy about using it last night. There were no fewer then four pyrotechnic displays last night, two of them featuring hundereds of shells. They lit up the skies and came for the four corners of Beijing, from the Great Wall to the Forbidden City. The capital was illuminated for the entire 4 hour ceremony.

The ceremony began with pyrotechnic footprints that marched towards the National Arena, which will henceforth be referred to by it’s familiar nickname, “The Bird’s Nest.” The ceremony also begins with the sound of drums, 2008 to be exact. The drums light up as the performers strike them forming intricate and precise patterns with each sequence. Then suddenly the pattern changes and the “countdown begins.” With Chinese characters on top and standard numerals on the bottom, it began at 60 and changed every twn seconds until they reached 10. From there, the countdown changed each second until they reached 0. At that point, the first major fireworks dispay began. The pyro came from different levels of the Bird’s Nest and from different locations around Beijing.  This begin’s the first part of the ceremony, which will deal with China’s past.

Part of that past is their contribution to writing, through caligraphy. A display celebrating this plays out on one of the largest LCD screens ever created (230 feet x 70 feet). As performes danced on the touch sensitive middle portion of the LCD, which unfurled like a scroll, their movements combined to form a painting, which was then lifted into the air.

One of the most astounding parts was up next. Hundreds of moveable type blocks, bearing Chinese characters, rose from the arena floor and began to undulate back and forth in a precise sequence. As the sequence went on, they began to form larger Chinese characters, including the one for harmony, a major theme of these games. As the sequence went on, the precision caused mant to assume that it had been done using hydraulics and/or computers. These assumption served to highten shock when, at the end of the performance, the blocks turned over to reveal the close to 900 PEOPLE inside them. That’s right, they did it with people!

Next up, the exploration history of China is explored in a homage to the days of Silk Road. This act involves 800 terra cotta warriors and 928 “oarsmen” in blue outits holding banners, that when help upright, become ships. There is a single figure with a compass on stage. He represents Zheng He, the “Chinese Columbus.”

This ends the first part of the ceremony. But, the audience has no time to catch their breath, because the second portion, entitled “Beautiful Olympics”, begins immediately.

2400 performers, called “star men” come onto the stage in green bodysuits that light up. The move in intricate patterns. First they form a dove, a standard at Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Then, with perfect coordination they form a representation of the Bird’s Nest. In the center of this makeshift Bird’s Nest sits Lang Lang, a famous Chinese musician. He plays the piano as the “star men” perform their routine.

Next up is another spectacular set piece. A tai chi exhibition featuring 2008 performers. Admist the intricate movements, nature is celebrated by persormers holding scrims which images are projected onto.

Next, a gigantic globe rises from the arena floor. At first, images of nature are projected on the globe, but suddenle, the image changes and the world is displayed. As you look closer at the globe you can see that there are people walking around tracks set into the globe. At the top of the globe are two singers: Liu Huan and Sarah Brightman. Underneath them, on the floor, 2008 performers hold placards bearing faces from five continents. As their performance concludes a fireworks display signals the beginning of the Parade of Nations.

This is the least orderly portion of the event, believe it or not. Greece will enter first and China will enter last. The rest of the entry order is determined by the number of Chinese characters in the country’s name. The United States entered 140th. China’s flag was carried by celebrated NBA Player Yao Ming. He was accompanied by a child anmed Lin Hao, a 9 year old survivor of the May earthquake. As each athlete walks across the arena floor, they leave their foot prints on a platform which will be used to make the opening speeches.

When the parade is finished, Beijing Organizing Committee Liu QI and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge each make speeches. Then, Chinese President Hu Jintao declares the games officially open.

The Olympic flag is carried into the stadium by 8 famous Chinese athletes. It is raised as 80 children sing the Olympic anthem.

Then, it is finally time for the moment of truth. The Olympic torch arrives in the stadium and is handed off to five different torch bearers before finally being handed to Li Ning, a famous Chinese gymnast from the 80’s. Ning is hoisted into the air and begins to “walk around the rim of the arena. As this is happening, images of the torch relay. beginning in Olympus, Greece, are projected onto the giant video boards that line the rim. As the reach the end of the relay in Beijing on the screens, Ning reaches the cauldron, which has ” grown” out of the stadium. It is shaped like a curved scroll. Ning lights a pipe which carries the flame up the cauldron’s spiral and suddenly the top of the cauldron bursts into flame. And then, the REAL fireworks display begins. A team of 600 engineers set off thousands of shells in a display that seems the only fittng way to cap this superb spectacle.

If you missed it, go online and watch the videos. Those who saw it will find it hard to forget. It was an unmistakable statement by the Chinese that the faith of teh IOC in bringing the games to Beijing is well placed. Let the games begin!

For more information on the Olympics please visit www.nbcolympics.com or the official site en.beijing2008.cn.

Enjoy the images below.