page_title: Chronological summary of the 2008 Summer Olympics
section_title: August 8
hierarchical_section_title: Chronological summary of the 2008 Summer Olympics / August 8
caption_attribution_description: English: Fireworks explode over China's National Stadium in Beijing Friday night, Aug. 8, 2008, during the finale of the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
context_page_description: This page contains a chronological summary of major events from the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
context_section_description: Opening Ceremony
  Starting at 8:00 pm CST (UTC+8), the four-hour opening ceremony was attended by 91,000 spectators, including more than 100 world leaders. The spectacle was directed by filmmaker Zhang Yimou, and the Olympic Cauldron was lit by former Chinese gymnast Li Ning.
  Equestrian
  The first events started in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, with eventing in equestrian sports.
caption: Fireworks during the opening ceremony
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