On the Scene in Beijing -- We Are Ready Says BOCOG

(ATR) The waiting is almost over. After seven years of planning and preparations, BOCOG is gearing up to host a spectacular opening ceremony Friday night at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing.

"The host city people are ready to welcome our friends from all over the world," said Wang Wei, executive vice-president of BOCOG, at a news conference Friday.

Hazy skies cover Beijing as security measures are tightened with the arrival of 90 heads of state in the Chinese capital ahead of the ceremony.

IOC president Jacques Rogge met with world leaders including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Thursday night. As well as discussing the Games, Rogge used the meetings to raise issues of concern to the Olympic Movement such as the fight against doping.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who flew in from Thailand, is among the leaders and dignitaries gathering for the opening. He arrived just a few hours after expressing "deep concerns" over China’s human rights.

More than 100 sovereigns, heads of state and heads of government will attend the Olympics along with 170 sports ministers.

Athletes and officials from 205 countries are participating in the opening ceremony at 8pm Friday.

Organizers promise a glittering spectacle mixing China’s ancient history and culture with elements showcasing the modern face of the country. The two parts of the ceremony are titled "Splendid Civilization" and "Magnificent Times".

English singer Sarah Brightman and Chinese singer Liu Huan will perform the theme song. BOCOG says there will be no depiction of the Sichuan earthquake in the opening ceremony as it is "a celebration of a sporting event".

The stunning 91,000-seat Bird’s Nest stadium is the setting for the three-hour spectacle. BOCOG is said to be spending around $100 million on the opening and closing ceremonies. That figure would more than double the amount reportedly spent at the Athens Olympics.

Over 10,000 performers are participating in the opening; it will be watched on TV by an estimated four billion people worldwide.

BOCOG also promises a breath-taking fireworks display, both inside the stadium and throughout the city.

Chinese basketball star Yao Ming is flag bearer for a delegation that numbers 1,099, athletes, coaches and officials, the largest ever for China. Of the 639 athletes, 468 are participating in their first Games.

Both the IOC and BOCOG are warning athletes planning to display political signs or protest in any way that their actions would run against the Olympic Charter and the spirit of the Olympic Movement.

Wang says Beijing is ready to cope with the crowds descending on the Bird’s Nest and surrounding area and security plans are in place.

"We want to make sure transportation will go well, and the people flow," he said.

"Some people will stay home watching TV, some are lucky enough to come to the stadium, some want to go to the streets to watch the fireworks.

"A lot of things are being done to have a good control of flow of people, not only for an exciting [experience] for people, but a safe and pleasant one."

Despite confidence in staging great Games, Wang admits expectations may be too high.

"China is a developing country and Beijing is a developing city," he told reporters Friday.

While the hardware and infrastructure are in place, he urges people to be patient with elements of the software that is not - including such things as taxi drivers getting lost.

"We are still far from perfect," he said, "but we have tried our best."

Of the 28 sports on the Olympic program, 17 get underway Saturday, with seven gold medals to be awarded in five sports: road cycling, fencing, weightlifting, judo and shooting.

Nearly 11,000 athletes are competing in 302 medal events.

Written by Mark Bisson and Bob Mackin in Beijing.