2008 Beijing Games opening ceremony

Lopez Lomong carries the flag in front of a cheerful yet subdued contingent of U.S. athletes.

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The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant smiles during the athletes’ procession.

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Chinese table tennis star Sun Jin Fang carries the torch past other athletes during the opening ceremony.

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Entertainers perform during the ceremony.

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A scroll is raised in the middle of the Bird’s Nest, as Beijing’s National Stadium is called.

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Fireworks light the National Stadium.

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Performers raise a show of color during the opening ceremony.

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Costumed performers are a whirl of action at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

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Hundreds of performers salute the crowd during the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics.

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Drummers stand at attention at the kickoff of the 2008 Bejing Olympics.

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Drummers perform during the opening ceremony.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Performers in lighted suits create an oceanic image at the opening ceremony at the Beijing National Stadium.

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Suspended by wires, Li Ning delivers the flame that lights the Olympic torch.

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Entertainers are suspended in the air by cables and climb a globe during the opening ceremony.

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Fireworks light the sky over the National Aquatics Center and the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing Summer Olympics.

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China’s National Aquatics Center, also known as the “Water Cube,” is seen less than a hour from the start of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summer Games.

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The Olympic rings appear electric during the opening ceremony at National Stadium in Beijing.

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A panoramic view of drummers performing during the opening ceremony in Beijing.

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Fireworks create a brilliant sight during the opening ceremony.

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Soldiers stand at attention during the opening ceremony. The three-hour show at Beijing’s iconic “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium is set to see more than 15,000 performers showcase the nation’s ancient history and its rise as a modern power.

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Drummers take their positions for the opening ceremony at National Stadium.  (Adam Pretty / Getty Images)

The drummers’ opening ceremony performance.  (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

An artist looks like a shiny puppet during an opening ceremony performance.  (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

Artists don dramatic headdresses during the opening ceremony.  (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

Fireworks light up Beijing’s night sky during the opening ceremony.  (Behrouz Mehri AFP/Getty Images)

The Olympic rings are illuminated.  (Alexander Hassenstein Bongarts / Getty Images)

A Chinese performer creates atmosphere with colorful scarves during the ceremony.  (Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)

Using a little imagination, a viewer might think the opening ceremony, at one point, resembled a birthday cake with candles.  (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

A “sailboat” performance.  (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

Performers glow and sparkle.  (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

A nod to tradition and history.  (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

One of many regal moments.  (William West AFP/Getty Images)

A young dancer is suspended in air.  (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

Performers create a striking sea image.  (Jewel Samad AFP/Getty Images)

Performers walk around a floating sphere.  (Luca Bruno / Associated Press)

A dramatic dance and musical performance.  (Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)

Performers dance on a white paper sheet representing “papermaking” during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games in the National Stadium. More than 15,000 performers showcased the nation’s ancient history and its rise as a modern power.  (Nicolas Asfouri AFP/Getty Images)

Illuminated dancers perform during the opening ceremony.  (Adam Pretty / Getty Images)

A spacesuited performer inside the National Stadium during the opening ceremony.  (Vladimir Rys Bongarts/Getty Images)

Fireworks explode over China’s National Stadium, also known as the “bird’s nest,” during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  (Alexander F. Yuan / Associated Press)