More than 20,000 performers will spend more than three hours on Friday evening bringing 5,000 years of Chinese history to the world as the Games of the 29th Olympiad begin at the Beijing National Stadium.
And after seven years of preparation and months of controversy and protests, the celebration couldn't come soon enough for China's officials.
Here in Canada, the show will begin at 7 a.m. ET on Friday, hosted by CBC Television's Ron McLean and chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge. There will also be a pre-ceremony show at 5:45 a.m. ET on CBCSports.ca.
As always, details of the opening ceremony have been kept as secret as possible — a South Korean TV show did get a sneak peek last week, causing yet another controversy — but officials have said there will be 29,000 fireworks set off in numerous sites around the city as part of the celebration.
We also know who will be carrying the Chinese flag into the ceremonies — NBA star Yao Ming. But who will have the honour of lighting the cauldron at the end remains unknown.
The only thing officials have said is that the person will be renowned for their sporting achievement and "social influence."
Film director Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers ) has overseen the ceremony which, coupled with the closing celebration, has reportedly run up a tab of more than $100 million US.
An estimated four billion people around the world are expected to watch the ceremony live or on tape.
Celebrations culminate with the parade of athletes from all nations — Canada's flag will be carried by kayaker Adam van Koeverden — the arrival of the Olympic flag, its raising to the accompaniment of the Olympic anthem, and the torch lighting.
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