 Watch the Full Version August 8, 2008 is a date that will surely be remembered by a great number of people in the world, and especially in China. On this particular day, the much-anticipated 2008 Olympic Games officially drew up its curtains in Beijing, after seven years of preparation.
However, the beauty of the big day is not only about the grand opening ceremony, but the way people celebrated the sporting event throughout the day.
The city wakes up, with birds chirping and workers cleaning the streets with their brooms. Before sunrise, readers quickly gather around newspaper stalls, hoping to snap up the special Olympic editions of their favorite dailies. Bus passengers are also excited on receiving a special ticket commemorating the Olympic Games.
Staff in marriage bureaus are as busy as a bee. Most of them started work 30 minutes earlier than usual, only to witness a record number of young couples swarming into their room. Many newlyweds say they want to be blessed by both the Olympics and the auspicious date, August 8, 2008. Statistics show more than 15,000 couples tied the knot that day in Beijing.
Dubbed the "Olympic Babies", about 200 boys and girls were born in Beijing on August 8. In Yuquan Hospital in western Beijing, a boy weighing four kilograms was born just 40 minutes after midnight. His grandparents almost burst into tears at the news, as they initially expected the baby to be delivered several days later.
The Olympic atmosphere gradually builds up near the Bird's Nest in the afternoon, with more and more people arriving by subway or bus. Though many of them didn't have tickets for the opening ceremony, they are more than happy to join friends from home and abroad outside the sports venue, counting down the historic moment.
People around the Bird's Nest only account for a small proportion of those who enjoyed the Olympic fervor in the city. Most of them caught the action live on TV, at home with the family, or with other revelers in front of big screens in public venues.
The moment finally arrives! As performers at the opening ceremony count down to zero, the whole world peps up. From exhilarated spectators inside the Bird's Nest, to worldwide TV viewers marveling at the breathtaking fireworks display; from foreigners waving Olympic banners to young Chinese hugging each other, the spirit of "One World, One Dream" eventually comes into its own on August 8, 2008. The day will forever be etched in the memory of those who strive for peace and harmony.
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