BEIJING: 

KHALID A-H ANSARI IN BEIJING

WEATHER forecasters have predicted "favourable" weather conditions for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony this evening, but organisers and fans are keeping their fingers crossed after yesterday's high pollution levels, which shrouded the city with a thick haze for most of the day.
 
According to the meteorological office, the Forbidden City will experience scattered  showers during the day and cloudy skies during the opening ceremony scheduled for 8 pm, which would render advance technology designed to reduce rain unnecessary.

Games organisers had previously forecast a 41 per cent chance of rain but, according to a spokesperson, the weather during the opening ceremony will be "favourable".

British classical soprano Sarah Brightman and Liu Huan, China's most versatile singer, will perform at the opening, which will be viewed live by a record audience of more than 1 million viewers worldwide.

The three and a half hour extravaganza will begin with the beating of the Chinese drum, the fou. It will be followed by a display of the Olympic rings and the Chinese national flag.

Performances

Workers move through morning haze on the Olympic Green in Beijing yesterday. Pic/AP

The one-hour "main" performance, divided into two parts, will be intervened by a Chinese scroll painting. About 15,000 performers are expected to perform in the Bird's Nest, as the National stadium is called because of its design.

Modern technology and wire performances will depict China's ancient history and its transition to modern times.
"It's a Chinese story told in the language of the world," according to Zhang Yimou, the director of the opening and closing ceremonies.

The performance will be followed by the traditional athletes' parade (the order according to the Chinese alphabet), speeches by International Olympics and Organising Committee dignitaries, oath-taking by athletes and officials, releasing of pigeons and lighting of the Olympic flame, to the accompaniment by 30,000 "shells" shooting into the sky above the Olympic Green. 

                                                                           ***************

The first result of these Games saw Brazil draw 0-0 with Germany in the women's football event on Wednesday.
Hosts China, fancied to win the gold medal, outclassed Sweden 2-1.

In men's football action yesterday, the United States defeated Japan 1-0, Serbia drew with Australia 1-1, Belgium went down to Brazil 0-1 while Italy beat Honduras 3-0.