BEIJING, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics officially took flight from the Bird's Nest stadium Friday, with the opening ceremony kicking off at 8 p.m. local time.
Li Ning, a Chinese gymnast who won six medals at the 1984 Games, lit the Olympic torch as a large group of world leaders lead by Presidents Hu Jintao of China and George Bush of the United States watched. Li was suspended by wires as he circled the stadium and then lit the huge cauldron.