All right on a hot Beijing night

BEIJING 2008:YOU CAN be as cynical and dismissive as you like about the Olympic ideal or what's left of it.

You can curse the cheek of the Chinese for being so smug about their opening ceremony when their human-rights record is less squeaky-clean than ours. But at least have some sympathy for those of us who endured all four-and-a-bit hours of it in the hot Beijing night.

In the end, it didn't really tell us anything we had not already guessed (China was going to put on a spectacular show), except we now know China's six-time gymnastic medallist Li Ning lit the Olympic flame, and the Bird's Nest will be an absolute cauldron when the headline track-and-field events get underway there next Friday.

This can't be overstated. Last night provided our first experience of the 91,000-seater filled to capacity, and there was no room to breathe. There's not a whiff of a breeze, and the track is actually sunk 30 metres into the ground, which will surely heighten the sensation of trying to run around the bottom of a hot bowl of soup.

Not even several ice creams served up in the shape of the Olympic flame could cool us off.

The whole thing got underway bang on schedule at eight in the evening with 2,008 drummers and some words from Confucius: "Friends have come from afar, how happy we are." Couldn't have put it better myself.

After lots of dancing and special effects, it was 10.40 before the small Irish delegation got to march in, smiling and waving behind flag-bearer Ciara Peelo, the Malahide sailor, who held up brilliantly under the pressure of four billion TV viewers.

It was another half an hour before the stadium PA announced "The People's Republic of China" - and that did raise the odd hair on the back of the neck.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, gave a typically touching speech.

"For a long time China has dreamed of opening its doors and inviting the world's athletes to Beijing. Tonight that dream comes true," he said.

The Games of the 29th Olympiad have finally begun - or at least will have by the time most of you get to read this. The seven-hour time difference between Beijing and Ireland (we being ahead of you) means some stories won't travel so well, although it does save us tight deadlines.

With 18 of Ireland's team of 54 competitors in action on day one, it will be hard to follow them all, especially with the equestrian events taking place in Hong Kong. The dressage team of Geoff Curran, Niall Griffin, Louise Lyons, Austin O'Connor and Patricia Ryan are first off - their event starts at 6.30am local time - against 10 other countries.

The five Irish boxers who secured the magic ticket of Olympic qualification found out earlier yesterday exactly what would be required to win a medal, and the news was generally good.

Light flyweight Paddy Barnes and middleweight Darren Sutherland were handed byes into the second round, significantly improving their medal prospects.

Barnes was the first of the Irish boxers to secure his place in Beijing, and he won't have his first fight until next Saturday, against Jose Luis Meza of Mexico.

Barnes, however, is on the same side of the draw as Zou Shiming, hotly tipped to win China's first boxing gold medal, although they won't meet before the semi-finals - provided they both get that far.

Likewise, Sutherland won't enter the ring until next Saturday, when he'll face the strong challenge of Nabil Kassel of Algeria, the African champion from 2005.

Team captain Kenny Egan is straight into the action this afternoon (8.30am Irish time), against Julius Jackson of the Virgin Islands.

Tomorrow, John Joe Joyce will have his first bout at light-welterweight against Hungary's Gyula Kate, while John Joe Nevin has to wait until Tuesday to open his bantamweight challenge against Abdelhalim Ourradi of Algeria.

This evening, Andrew Bree gets to experience the awesome Olympic Aquatic Centre when he goes in heat five of the 100-metre breaststroke (1.35am Irish time).

Although he's the Irish record holder with 61.83 seconds, Bree's specialist distance is the 200 metres, and he will do well to progress in the 100.

Head coach Keith Bewley yesterday confirmed all three Irish swimmers - Bree, Aisling Cooney and Melanie Nocher - would wear the new Speedo LZR swimsuit, widely considered to have played a big part in 45 of the 47 world records set since February this year. In fairness, the Irish will need all the help they can get.

The heavyweight four crew are in action out at the Rowing Centre. Cormac Folan, Seán Casey, Jonathon Devlin and Seán O'Neill face a difficult task to come out of their heat against the likes of France, Germany and Australia.

Today also marks the start of Michael Phelps's quest to win a record eight gold medals in swimming; the American superstar kicks off with the heats of the 400-metre individual medley.

With the list of entrants coming close to 11,000, across 302 events, there will be just under 1,000 medals of offer in these Games. The first of those will be handed out today for rifle shooting, and China - surprise, surprise - are favourites to win at least one.

The host nation has a team of 639 athletes and will contest all 28 Olympic sports for the first time, and their bid to top the medals table for the first time ahead of the United States looks certain to get off to a flying start.