• The 2008 Summer Olympics opened at 8:08:08 p.m. China Standard Time on August 8, 2008. The opening ceremony featured a colorful display of nearly 30,000 fireworks shells, which exploded over Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China.

• 1. Date: August 8, 2008
  2. Time: 8:08:08 p.m. China Standard Time
  3. Location: Beijing National Stadium, Beijing, China
  4. Nearly 30,000 fireworks shells used
  5. Reportedly 91,000 attendees inside the stadium
  6. U.S. television broadcast: NBC - August 8 at 8 p.m. EST
  7. Directed by: Zhang Yimou
  8. Total ceremony length: three-and-a-half hours
  9. Gunpowder, which makes fireworks explode, was discovered in China

• Fireworks Display

  The ceremony began with a 2008-member Fou Band, who used drums to count down the final seconds before 8:08:08 p.m. local time. The fireworks display, which was set off from the top of the stadium itself, followed. Moments later, 29 burning footprints appeared, representing each of the modern Olympics. Each footprint of fireworks exploded one-by-one, each second, until the final footprint, near Beijing National Stadium, completed the display.

• Too Good to Be True?

  On August 10, 2008, the Telegraph reported that the giant footprint fireworks were actually set off during the ceremony, but the footage that was broadcast was computer generated. Organizers of the ceremony stated that it would not be safe for the helicopter filming crew to tape that close to the blasts.

• Media Reactions

  The Telegraph described the ceremony as "the most breathtaking opening ceremony ever seen." One NBC commentator added, "there are and will be issues and disagreements surrounding these games, but I don't see how anyone can dispute the quality of this opening ceremony. What a stunning, stunning achievement."

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