Fireworks light the sky over the National Aquatics Center and the National Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Beijing Summer Olympics. (Lars Baron Bongarts / Getty Images)
The Olympic rings are illuminated. (Alexander Hassenstein Bongarts/Getty Images)
The drummers’ opening ceremony performance. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Artists don dramatic headdresses during the opening ceremony. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
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Fireworks light up Beijing’s night sky during the opening ceremony. (Behrouz Mehri AFP/Getty Images)
Performers glow and sparkle. (David Philip / Associated Press)
A “sailboat” performance. (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
A dramatic dance and musical performance. (Cameron Spencer / Getty Images)
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Performers dance on a white paper sheet representing “papermaking” during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games in the National Stadium. More than 15,000 performers showcased the nation’s ancient history and its rise as a modern power. (Nicolas Asfouri AFP/Getty Images)
Illuminated dancers perform during the opening ceremony. (Adam Pretty / Getty Images)
Fireworks explode over China’s National Stadium, also known as the “bird’s nest,” during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. (Alexander F. Yuan / Associated Press)
