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Beijing ready for Olympic opening Security tight for Olympics start
(about 2 hours later)
The Chinese capital, Beijing, is preparing to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony, amid hazy skies and ongoing pollution concerns. The Chinese capital, Beijing, is preparing to open the 2008 Olympic Games with a lavish ceremony, amid tight security on the city's streets.
The event will involve about 10,000 performers, and will be watched on TV by an estimated one billion people. An extra 100,000 troops and police have been deployed, and the city's main airport is being closed for the duration of the ceremony.
The lead-up to the Games has been dogged by issues such as China's rights record, internet access, and pollution. The festivities will involve 10,000 performers and will be watched on TV by an estimated one billion people.
US President George W Bush was among several world leaders to express concern over a crackdown on dissidents. President Hu Jintao said: "The historic moment we have awaited is arriving."
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." However, the BBC's Michael Bristow in Beijing described the mood in the city as muted - despite the fevered build-up.
Meanwhile, 40 Olympic athletes wrote to Chinese President Hu Jintao expressing their concerns over Beijing's handling of anti-Chinese unrest in Tibet. He said streets had been blocked off, there were few cars on the roads and Olympic volunteers seemed to outnumber ordinary people.
And Tibetans have held angry protests in Nepal, with hundreds reported to have been arrested in the capital, Kathmandu. Bomb threat
China frequently dismisses criticism over its domestic policies - particularly in Tibet - as interference in its internal affairs.
Muted city
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.
China promises 'greatest' Games href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7544851.stm">In pictures: Torch at Great Wall class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7498198.stm">Beijing pollution: Facts and figures China promises 'greatest' Games 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
But after a succession of controversial issues in the build-up to the Games, the focus is now shifting to the opening ceremony. China has faced pressure to improve civil liberties in the run-up.
US President George W Bush was among several world leaders to express concern over a crackdown on dissidents.
And security remains a major concern, with a number of threats of disruption.
On Friday an Air China flight bound for Beijing from Tokyo was forced to turn back after a bomb threat was received.
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.
Nevertheless, after a succession of controversial issues in the build-up the focus is now shifting to the opening ceremony.
It has taken seven years of planning, and costs are estimated to have hit a record-breaking $40bn (£20bn).It has taken seven years of planning, and costs are estimated to have hit a record-breaking $40bn (£20bn).
Film director Zhang Yimou has been charged with portraying 5,000 years of Chinese history in one show.Film director Zhang Yimou has been charged with portraying 5,000 years of Chinese history in one show.
It will be staged at China's new national stadium - known as the Bird's Nest because of its steel lattice construction - and some 10,000 performers will take part.It will be staged at China's new national stadium - known as the Bird's Nest because of its steel lattice construction - and some 10,000 performers will take part.
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Fans gather outside the "Bird's Nest" stadium
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.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.
But human-rights groups have continued to condemn curbs on journalists covering the Games. On the morning of the opening ceremony, a BBC reading suggested Beijing's air quality remained below World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
In a statement issued on Friday, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch said: "As the 2008 Olympic Games open in Beijing, foreign journalists in China face a host of severe restrictions, ranging from harassment to a censored internet."
With the authorities determined to clamp down on any possible security concern, some 100,000 extra troops and police have been deployed in the capital over recent weeks.
The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, described the mood in the city as muted.
He said streets had been blocked off, there were few cars on the roads and Olympic volunteers seemed to outnumber ordinary people.
China's 'extraordinary' effort
On the morning of the opening ceremony, a BBC reading suggested Beijing's air quality remained below World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
Visibility was also very poor on Friday, with one official warning that the cloud could interfere with the ceremony.Visibility was also very poor on Friday, with one official warning that the cloud could interfere with the ceremony.
HAVE YOUR SAYWe hope the games will show our guests China today, not China thirty years ago Roc, ChinaSend us your comments
"There are clouds covering Beijing and we are really concerned that will have an influence on tonight's ceremony," said Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Meteorological Observatory."There are clouds covering Beijing and we are really concerned that will have an influence on tonight's ceremony," said Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Meteorological Observatory.
But Mr Guo 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 Mr Guo 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.
"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, Mr Rogge said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than an hour could be shifted or postponed.
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.