The main event features a brief welcoming and an hourlong artistic performance — broken into two segments called "Beautiful Olympics" and "Magnificent Civilization" — showcasing China's history, diversity, achievements and development.

Some 15,000 performers are scheduled to participate, including professional artists, students and members of China's combined military forces, the People's Liberation Army.

Entering country by country, the parade of some 10,000 athletes from a record 205 countries will follow Olympic tradition with Greece — home to the ancient Games — entering as the first national contingent and host China as the finale.

However, the rest of the nations will enter in order of how many strokes are required to write the characters of the country's Chinese name, from fewest to most.

And with China proud of its heritage as the origin of fireworks, the opening ceremony will conclude with a massive fireworks display, with some 15,000 shells to be fired above National Stadium and another 14,000 throughout the surrounding Olympic Green.

---

E-mail: taylor@desnews.com