Lavish Start to the 2008 Olympics
12 photos
<p>Fireworks over Beijing's National Stadium, aka the "Bird's Nest."</p>
<p>Olympics rings glitter over performers inside the stadium.</p>
<p>Percussion performers get ready.</p>
<p>The opening ceremonies included elaborate set pieces telling the story of China's history.</p>
<p>A sphere emerged with performers on it.</p>
<p>A view outside the National Stadium, from the aquatics center.</p>
<p>Members of the U.S. Olympic team pose with President Bush.</p>
<p>Lopez Lomong was the flagbearer for the U.S.</p>
<p>Kobe Bryant looks jaunty in his Ralph Lauren opening ceremony uniform.</p>
<p>Yao Ming, China's flagbearer, walked with a 9-year-old survivor of the Sichuan earthquake, Lin Hao.</p>
<p>Fireworks over the stadium.</p>
<p>Students for a Free Tibet released this photo showing activists being detained by Chinese authorities during a "symbolic protest" outside the stadium earlier in the day.</p>