Percussionists played fou drums at the start of the ceremony Photograph: Joe Klamar/AFPPerformers created a spectacluar light show Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach /ReutersThe Chinese national flag Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty
Soldiers stood to attention as fireworks went off Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini /AFPThe Olympic rings were raised in the stadium Photograph: David Gray/ReutersAn actress performing at the opening ceremony Photograph: Mike Blake/ReutersFireworks explode over the Bird's Nest stadium Photograph: Reinhard Krause/ReutersPerformers with oars in formation Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFPPeople struggled to get into Tiananmen Square to watch the opening ceremony on screensPhotograph: Nir Elias/ReutersA crowd of 91,000 watched the spectacle Photograph: Mike Hewitt/GettyA young dancer performed while suspended in the air Photograph: Streeter Lecka/GettyDancers demonstrated Chinese martial arts Photograph: Streeter Lecka /GettyDancers in glowing attire Photograph: Streeter Lecka/GettyA performer dressed as an astronaut Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/ReutersChildren representing Chinese ethnic groupsPhotograph: Oliver Weiken/EPAPerformers walked around a floating sphere while the Chinese singer Liu Huan and the British singer Sarah Brightman sang the official theme song for the GamesPhotograph: Luca Bruno/APPerformers wore traditional costume Photograph: Diego Azubel/EPABoxes inscribed with Chinese characters were part of the performance Photograph: Ezra Shaw/GettyThe former Chinese gymnast Li Ning carries the Olympic flame around the top of the stadium Photograph: David Gray/ ReutersLi Ning lights the Olympic flame Photograph: David Gray /ReutersLi Ning lights the Olympic flame Photograph: David Gray/ReutersFireworks explode to mark the end of the ceremonyPhotograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty
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