by Jamal Hashim

    BAGHDAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraqis on Friday felt enchanted by the opening ceremony of the 29th Beijing Olympics and excited to see the appearance of their athletes at the venue, which was achieved at the eleventh hour.

    "Just as I expected, the Chinese did not miss the opportunity to demonstrate the distinctive characteristics of the ancient Chinese culture," said 55-year-old Adel Rasheed while speaking of the stunning mix of everything from traditional dance, calligraphy and Kongfu to modern light art and fireworks.

Members of the Olympic Delegation of Iraq parade into the National Stadium at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)Photo Gallery>>>

    "They are not only evoking people's curiosity about China's history, but also showing their superiority in modern science and technology," the archeologist said.

    The Rasheed family were sharing the joyful moment with their neighbors at the house of Basim Ali, 54, in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Yarmouk.

    Prior to the show, some of them were busy in preparing a generator and fuel to guarantee that the gala would not be spoiled by the chronic power shortage here.

    "I wonder if the number eight that the Chinese believe brings good and luck is a real fortune number for all the people in the world," he said, referring to the UN announcement on the very same day 20 year ago which signaled the end of the devastating eight- year war between Iraq and Iran.

    When Liu Huan, a renowned Chinese singer, and British diva Sarah Brightman were about to start their joint rendering of the Olympic theme song, Um Sameer, Basim's wife, took out her mobile phone and required everyone to hush up.

Members of the Olympic Delegation of Iraq parade into the National Stadium at the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Lei) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Quiet please, I want to record the song of the Games. I heard that it would be performed by Chinese and British singers. I don't want to miss this song, and at least I will have the chance to listen to it again and again later."

    When the Iraqi team would show up during the ceremony became a guess competition for the ardent Iraqis thousands kilometers away from the scene, as the athletes came into the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, in the order of Chinese characters of respective countries' names.

    "I think there would be no top leaders to receive our team. But I am also sure that the Chinese people will receive our team in a special way," said Muhammad Husam, who is 20 years old. "I am sure the stadium would be very noisy when our team enters."

    Applause and shout broke out from the more than 90,000 spectators in the stadium, so did from the Iraqis who were glued to their television sets to see the live broadcast.

    Sport is perhaps the only thing that can soothe and unite the Iraqis plagued by grim sectarian confrontation and cruel bloodshed.

    During the 2004 Athens Olympics, the Iraqi soccer team made it to the semifinals, prompting celebrations throughout the war- ravaged country.

    The hope of seeing their athletes in the Beijing Olympics were nearly shattered when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Iraqi government were locked in a dispute over the latter' s abrupt dismiss of the national Olympic body in May.

    The IOC finally gave the Iraqi team the green light to go to Beijing at the end of July.

    When the Iraqi delegation, a group of 10 including the flag bearer, were striding into the stadium, the spectators paid tribute to the team by waving hands or flags, amid thunderous cheers and deafening applause.

    "Look, they are going to enter the stadium. They are so beautiful and it is such an honor to be there. I can imagine how happy they are," Rasheed said.

    "I feel proud of our athletes. They are few in number, but are giving me the sense that we are part of the world community, we are not alone in this world, and there are people really taking care of our sufferings."

    Ali, the householder, shared the feeling. "I am so proud, that I see our small team welcomed so warmly by Chinese people, I think they are really sympathized with our people," he said.