2008 Summer Olympic Games

The Chinese team NBA basketball player Yao Ming was the flag bearer for the host nation China. He was accompanied in the procession by Lin Hao, a 9-year-old boy who survived the earthquake in Sichuan, China, in May 2008. Over 70,000 people died in the quake. Twenty of the boy's classmates died in the disaster. The boy escaped but went back to the rubble to help bring out two of his classmates. He explained that he was a class leader and a hall monitor so it was his duty to help. The Chinese team is favored to win the total medal count at the Games.

The Opening Ceremony was held in Beijing National Stadium.