"MILE-HIGH but an inch deep" is how one US veteran of world economic summits has unkindly described the one which has opened here with a huge ballyhoo of red carpets, anthems and feasting.
Denver of course proudly calls itself the "mile-high" city nestling at the base of the snow-covered Rockies but the "inch deep" reference does not go down well here, where millions of dollars are being lavished to make this a summit to remember.
The security is all-pervasive, with the natives being blocked off from the midtown summit venue of the Denver Public Library which is one of the largest in the US. Today the leaders of the US, Russia, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada, along with the Netherlands and the EU Commission - representing the EU - will sit around a table of Colorado cherry, oak and maple to discuss the state of the world.
In fact, foreign policy issues will figure largely here, despite its status as a so-called economic summit. But with presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers of the world's eight most powerful nations all meeting in the same place, this is inevitable.
The situation in Bosnia will be high on the agenda, as seven of the eight have troops there and already there is nervousness at what will happen when the present NATO force pulls out next year.
China is also preoccupying the summit leaders with the hand-over of Hong Kong less than two weeks away. China will be watching the summit closely for what is said about its application to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
NATO enlargement and European security would not usually figure on an economic summit agenda but both subjects will be discussed at the bilateral meeting between President Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin.
Mr Clinton will also be discussing the Northern Ireland situation with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in what is being called a "pull aside" at dinner or some other meeting sometime today.
Africa may well turn out to provide this summit's claim to a place in the history books. With many of its impoverished countries often written off as "basket cases", the richer West is now ready to review its ineffective aid programmes and reward African states that are making serious efforts to reach financial and political stability.
Mr Clinton gave this programme a boost when he announced this week new ways to promote investment in such countries and debt relief for the poorest.