Olympics opening ceremony underway

A woman in traditional Chinese dress performs during a dress rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics at the National Stadium, called the Bird's Nest, in Beijing on August 5, 2008. The Summer Games begin with the Opening Ceremony on August 8, 2008, and will run through August 24, 2008. (UPI Photo/Pat Benic)

The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics officially took flight from the "Bird's Nest" Friday, with the Games' opening ceremonies kicking off at 8 p.m. local time.

Beijing's National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, was the scene of a formation of 2,008 young men playing fou, an ancient Chinese percussion instrument, to signal the beginning of the elaborate opening ceremonies, Xinhua, the state-run Chinese news agency, reported.

The formation of Fou beaters began the ceremonies with a chant of the Confucian saying, "How happy we are, to meet friends from afar!"

Chinese President Hu Jintao and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge rose from their seats to wave to a cheering crowd of 91,000 in the packed stadium.

As sparkles fell into the stadium, a huge screen lit up showing the Olympic five rings, which were lifted in the air in a striking special effect, Xinhua reported.