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Gallery: Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing

Yao Ming carries the flag of China as he holds the hand of nine-year-old earthquake survivor Lin Hao during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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August 08, 2008 @ 01:00 PM

BEIJING -- Once-reclusive China commandeered the world stage Friday, celebrating its first-time role as Olympic host with a stunning display of pageantry and pyrotechnics to open a Summer Games.

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Yao Ming carries the flag of China as he holds the hand of nine-year-old earthquake survivor Lin Hao during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Earthquake survivors watch the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in the temporary camp provided for people who lost their home on the May 12th earthquake, in Yong An, Sichuan, China, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2008. As the opening ceremonies began for China's Olympics, even the region savaged by the May earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 and left more than 5 million homeless were reveling in the moment. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

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Chinese athlete Li Ning lights the Olympic flame above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Phillip)

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Lopez Lomong carries the flag of United States during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

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Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, left, and National Aquatic, also known as Water Cube, right, during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China Friday, Aug 8, 2008. (AP Photo) ** CHINA OUT **

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Fireworks explode over the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China Friday, Aug 8, 2008. (AP Photo) ** CHINA OUT **

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Chinese athlete Li Ning lights the Olympic flame above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Phillip)

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Fireworks explode over the National Stadium as the torch is light during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Itte Detenamo carries the flag of Nauru during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Frustrated Chinese Olympic fans march to protest that no public broadcasting of the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics is allowed at a park in Shanghai, ChibaFriday, Aug. 8, 2008. Live broadcasting of the opening ceremony was not shown at the beginning of the event at the public place big screen and sngly fans march around. Some minutes later broadcasting was shown at the public places. (AP Photo)

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Ciara Peelo carries the flag of Ireland during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Yao Ming carries the flag of China flanked by 9-year-old Lin hao, a survivor of the Wen Chuan earthquake, during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

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Lopez Lomong carries the flag of the United States during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

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Lopez Lomong carries the flag of the United States during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

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President Bush poses for photos with the U.S. women's softball team as he greets members of the U.S. Olympic team prior to the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

The delegation from the United States enters the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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U.S. President George Bush and his wife Laura wave during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)

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Lopez Lomong carries the flag of United States during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Performers are seen in the National Stadium during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

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USA athlete Kobe Bryant walks through the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Phillip)

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Performers dance around a giant scroll during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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A performer flies through the air during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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Tennis champion Roger Federer carries the flag of Switzerland during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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U.S. President George Bush uses binoculars to watch the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)

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Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal, center, walks with other Spanish athletes through the National Stadium during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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Athletes from Iran take pictures of themselves as they walk through the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

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Athletes from Iraq walk through the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

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The Canadian Olympic team celebrates as they march during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

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An illuminated globe rises from the floor of the National Stadium during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

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Members of the U.S. Olympic team take photos of President Bush as he addresses them prior to the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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Athletes from Bahrain walk through the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

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Fireworks explode above the "Bird's Nest" during the Opening Ceremony at the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

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Dancers perform during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

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Performers dance around a raised sphere during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Demonstrators carrying Tibetan flags depart from the 1928 Olympic stadium in Amsterdam, for a march urging China to end its harsh rule in Tibet and address other human rights abuses, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. The Olympic rings and motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius, or Faster, Higher, Stronger, is seen in the background. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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A child hugs his mother as demonstrators gather outside the Chinese embassy in central London as the Olympic Games in Beijing gets underway, Friday, Aug. 8 2008. The Chinese Embassy in central London was the focus for protesters railing against the country's treatment of people in Tibet. About 300 people gathered in front of the embassy, most wearing red headbands in memory of people killed in Tibet. (AP Photo / Joel Ryan)

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Fireworks explode over China's National Stadium, also known as the "Bird's Nest", during the Opening Ceremony of Beijing Olympics, Beijing, China, Friday, August 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)

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Dallas Mavericks center Germany's Dirk Nowitzki carries the flag of Germany to lead the german team into the national stadium during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

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A flame barer makes his way around the stadium at they prepare to light the torch during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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A flame barer makes his way around the stadium at they prepare to light the torch during the opening ceremonies for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

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Dallas Mavericks center Germany's Dirk Nowitzki carries the flag of Germany during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

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The Olympic flame burns above the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/David Phillip)

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