KATHMANDU, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The new republic Nepal is hit by the Beijing Olympic fever as people stayed at their homes to watch the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics on Friday.

    Thousands of sports fan across Nepal watched the kickoff of Summer Olympics in Beijing at their television screens.

The national flag of Nepal is raised up at the Olympic Village in Beijing, China, Aug. 7, 2008. The Olympic delegation of Nepal held its flag-raising ceremony on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)Photo Gallery>>>

    "My friends and neighbors everybody watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics. My locality was in a festive mood to enjoy the biggest sporting event," Chandan Singh Dhari a local resident of New Road, one of the most happening place in Nepali capital Kathmandu, told Xinhua.

    "I admire the arrangements of Chinese government for Olympics. The inauguration ceremony and the stadium where it took place was superb," he said adding that the world has known a lot about the progress of Beijing by viewing the opening of Olympics.

    Most of the viewers admired the Bird's Nest stadium where the opening ceremony was organized.

    "The Bird's Nest stadium where the event was organized is amazing. It's the most unique sporting venue I have ever seen," commented Sashi Koirala, a student in Kathmandu.

    "The stadium looked like the bride. The ceremony was very colorful. I liked it very much" he added.

    The Olympic fever has hit the world's new republic as its northern neighbor hosted the sport event for the first time in its history.

    "We can enjoy variety of sports at the Olympics. It's after four years we get to see such big sports festival so I wouldn't miss any games," said Amit Jung KC, a Kathmandu local.

    "The Olympic fever will run until the last day of the tournament. My eyes will be glued at the television sets to enjoy the game," he added.

    Nepal's state-run Television channel Nepal Television broadcasted the live of the Olympics inauguration ceremony.

    "The concentration of a huge population of Nepal is now on Beijing Olympics," said Anil Bogati, a sports journalist with country's largest private radio station Radio Kantipur.

    "We have our own reporter at Beijing to cover the event. We have increased our updates and live reporting to satisfy our listeners," he added.

    Even Chairman Prachanda of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) who was busy to gather consensus to form a new government and end the long political stalemate of the young republic said he was very much interested to see the Olympics.

    "Let us get into conclusions of forming the new government very soon. I am very much interested to watch the kickoff ceremony of Beijing Olympics," the Xinhua reporter heard the leader saying in the meeting of four major Nepali political parties on Friday afternoon.

    But as the meeting was delayed he missed the live telecast of the opening ceremony.

    The newly elected president, Ram Baran Yadav, couldn't attend in the Beijing Olympics because of the deadlock to form the new government.

    Eight Nepali players are participating in the Olympics but Nepal has fewer hopes of medals.

    Nepali sports fans have hoped veteran Taekwondo player Deepak Bista, who has got medals in several international tournament would give his best performance in the Olympics.

    "I have not hoped much about performance from Nepali players. But the Olympic fever would last till the last day of Beijing Olympics," said Parmeshwor Adhikari, a 20 years old student.

    "Even though we can't afford to go Beijing and watch the games, I don't want to miss any of the games," he said.