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Beijing Olympics ceremony begins Spectacular opening for Olympics
(about 2 hours later)
The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics has begun with a spectacular display of dancing, music and fireworks at a packed national stadium. A dramatic display of dancing, music and fireworks has taken place at China's packed national stadium, opening the Beijing Olympic Games.
Some 10,000 performers are taking part in the festivities, being watched on TV by an estimated one billion people. Some 10,000 performers took part in the festivities, watched on TV by an estimated one billion people.
The city's main airport has been closed for the ceremony, amid heightened security in the capital. Athletes are now parading around the stadium, ahead of the official opening of the Games.
The build-up to the event has been dominated by worries over pollution and criticism of China's rights record. The city's main airport has been closed for duration the ceremony, amid heightened security in the capital.
Earlier, President Hu Jintao said: "The historic moment we have awaited is arriving." The build-up to the event has been dominated by worries over pollution and criticism of China's rights record. class="" href="/sport1/hi/olympics/live_action/7549103.stm">Olympics: Live coverage class="" href="/sport1/hi/olympics/7548773.stm">In pictures: Beijing's big day class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7498198.stm">Beijing pollution: Facts and figures
Bomb threat But after a succession of controversial issues in the build-up, the opening ceremony was an attention-grabbing affair.
The choreographed show took seven years to plan, and costs are estimated to have hit a record-breaking $40bn (£20bn).
Film director Zhang Yimou was charged with portraying 5,000 years of Chinese history in one show.
Some 90,000 fans packed the new national stadium - known as the Bird's Nest because of its steel lattice construction - and cheered the performers.
The 2008 Olympics have been described as the most politicised Games since the boycott era of the early 1980s.The 2008 Olympics have been described as the most politicised Games since the boycott era of the early 1980s.
class="" href="/sport1/hi/olympics/live_action/7549103.stm">Olympics: Live coverage class="" href="/sport1/hi/olympics/7548773.stm">In pictures: Beijing's big day class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7498198.stm">Beijing pollution: Facts and figures China has faced pressure to improve civil liberties in the run-up - with US President George W Bush among several world leaders to express concern over a crackdown on dissidents.
China has faced pressure to improve civil liberties in the run-up. And security remained a pressing concern for the Chinese authorities right up to the opening ceremony.
US President George W Bush was among several world leaders to express concern over a crackdown on dissidents. An extra 100,000 troops and police have been deployed in the capital, and areas including Tiananmen Square were closed off.
And security remains a major concern, with a number of threats of disruption. In other developments:
On Friday an Air China flight bound for Beijing from Tokyo was forced to turn back after a bomb threat was received. • Three US activists were detained while attempting to mount a pro-Tibet protest near the national stadium, according to the Associated Press.
Airline officials said the threat, made by e-mail, was directly related to the Olympics. The plane landed safely in Japan and was being searched. • A protester tried to set himself alight outside the Chinese embassy in the Turkish capital Ankara, as Chinese Muslims protested against alleged rights violations in China.
Nevertheless, after a succession of controversial issues in the build-up the focus has now shifted to the opening ceremony. • An Air China flight bound for Beijing from Tokyo was forced to turn back after an Olympic-related bomb threat was received.
It has taken seven years of planning, and costs are estimated to have hit a record-breaking $40bn (£20bn). • Exiled Tibetans held angry protests in Nepal, with hundreds reported to have been arrested in the capital, Kathmandu.
Film director Zhang Yimou has been charged with portraying 5,000 years of Chinese history in one show. • Hundreds of Buddhist monks tried to storm the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, India, in protest at Beijing's Tibet policies.
It is being staged at China's new national stadium - known as the Bird's Nest because of its steel lattice construction - in front of 90,000 fans. Weather worries
Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee, who has repeatedly defended the decision to let China host the Olympics, said he hoped the Games would help the world to understand China, and China to understand the world. On the morning of the opening ceremony, a BBC reading suggested Beijing's air quality remained below World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
On the morning of the opening ceremony, a BBC reading suggested Beijing's air quality remained below World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYWe hope the Games will show our guests China today, not China 30 years ago Roc, China class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5207">Send us your comments
But Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, is predicting that heavy rain over the weekend will clear the skies, and he warned that hazy conditions should not be confused with high levels of pollution. But Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Meteorological Observatory, predicted that heavy rain over the weekend would clear the skies.
And he warned that hazy conditions should not be confused with high levels of pollution.
"If the visibility is not good it does not mean the air quality is not good," he said."If the visibility is not good it does not mean the air quality is not good," he said.
On Thursday, Mr Rogge said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than an hour could be shifted or postponed. On Thursday, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said events which lasted more than an hour could be shifted or postponed if the pollution was bad.
But he also praised China's "extraordinary" efforts to cut pollution ahead of the Games, saying there was no danger to athletes' health.But he also praised China's "extraordinary" efforts to cut pollution ahead of the Games, saying there was no danger to athletes' health.
Tibet protests
As the opening drew near, rights groups and some international leaders continued to keep the pressure on China.
HAVE YOUR SAYWe hope the Games will show our guests China today, not China 30 years ago Roc, ChinaSend us your comments
Mr Bush told an audience at the US embassy in Beijing on Friday: "We continue to be candid about our belief that all people should have the freedom to say what they think and worship as they choose."
Human Rights Watch issued a statement saying foreign journalists continued to face harassment and censorship in China.
Beijing continued to face particular criticism over its treatment of anti-Chinese protesters in Tibet.
Exiled Tibetans held angry protests in Nepal, with hundreds reported to have been arrested in the capital, Kathmandu.
China frequently dismisses criticism over its domestic policies - particularly in Tibet - as interference in its internal affairs.