BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Fireworks, athletes and pageantry on a scale never before seen in the Olympics opened the Summer Games in Beijing on Friday as the Asian nation kicked off the biggest and most scrutinized Games in history. Fans celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, on Friday. Chinese President Hu Jintao declared the Olympics officially open, retired Chinese gymnastics champion Li Ning was carried through the air to light the Olympic cauldron, and pyrotechnics exploded throughout Beijing as the crowd of 91,000 at National Stadium cheered wildly. It was a stunning display from the nation of 1.3 billion people. Some media observers believe that the Opening Ceremony may be the most-watched television event in history.Olympics Opening is under way, marking beginning of Summer Games2008 summer Olympics is most expensive on recordAnticipation building grows who will light Olympic cauldronMore than 10,000 athletes to compete for about 300 gold medals 
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