By John Sexton

Photo taken on August 8, 2008 shows the fireworks of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games held in the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, in north Beijing, China. [Xinhua]

Very few people will admit to enjoying an Olympic opening ceremony. We have too many awful memories of trampolining insects, bicycles disguised as ships, costume crimes and disco dancing. I have always suspected the world's most dire street performers and mime artists somehow manage to get hired for these extravaganzas.

But with superstar movie director Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers, Raise the Red Lantern) in charge of Beijing's 2008 opener, the world was expecting something special. He didn't disappoint. Using the motifs of a scroll and a matrix Zhang presented a majestic pageant of China's history that expressed pride in achievements without ever hitting a strident or discordant note.

The night closed with a heart-stopping, dare-devil run round the wall of death by Olympic gold medalist (now sportswear tycoon) Li Ning who finally let us breathe again when he lit the torch.

Countdown

Photo taken on August 8, 2008 shows the footprints fireworks named the “Footprints of History”, symbolizing the pace of the successive summer Games, during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing, China. [Xinhua]

It started low key with a Navy Band playing; President Hu Jintao and IOC President Jacques Rogge took their seats, followed by their predecessors Jiang Zemin and Juan Antonio Samaranch.

The stadium darkens; is that supposed to be the sun? A meteor roars to earth, a sundial shows time racing by, then a vast matrix of square drums that light up when struck, beats out the last minute, counting down to the first of many firework displays.

Fireworks traced giant footprints marching across Beijing to the stadium. I started to feel hairs bristling on the back of my neck. These guys are really going to pull it off.

National Anthem

A change of pace as luminous Olympic rings float through the stadium. A little girl sings a patriotic song, soldiers raise the flag, and its time for the national anthem. President Hu sings along.

Chinese painting

A film about paper and ink segues to giant scroll on the stadium floor. Black clad figures dance and paint, accompanied by the vibrato twangs of a zheng – a cross between a harp and a zither.

Chinese characters

Hundreds of men wearing feather head-dresses – are they supposed to be pens? Never mind, they look suitably archaic. It turns out they are supposed to be disciples of Confucius.

Performers wearing what looks like canvas laundry baskets represent wooden printing blocks. It's another matrix, undulating and forming characters, including 和 (he, pronounced her), the character for harmony. The whole thing makes the Chinese language utterly mystifying.