The Beijing Summer Games in 2008 started out with a bang — thousands of fireworks shot from the rim of the Bird’s Nest stadium and exploded against the night sky, briefly turning the structure into a giant replica of the Olympic Torch. The stunning pyrotechnics show capped off an opening ceremony designed not only to wow but also to make a statement: China has arrived.
Dogged by reports about air pollution, protests in Tibet and a devastating earthquake that exposed even deeper fault lines in local governance in the lead-up to the 2008 Games, Beijing’s leaders were determined to shift focus to their accomplishments and improve China’s image.