-:undertaker:-
08-08-08, 05:34 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7548539.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7548539.stm)
World leaders gather for Olympics
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44902000/jpg/_44902649_f5e13132-bd90-40d0-99aa-7a7e11651b49.jpg
Mr Bush was among the leaders touching down in China for the Games
Leaders and dignitaries from around the world are gathering in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The event will involve about 10,000 performers, and will be watched on TV by an estimated four billion people.
The lead-up to the Games has been overshadowed by issues such as China's human rights record, internet access, and air pollution in Beijing.
US President George W Bush expressed "deep concerns" over human rights before flying to Beijing.
Mr Bush, who was in Thailand on the eve of the opening ceremony, voiced "firm opposition" to China's detention of dissidents - while stressing that he wanted the focus during the Games to be on sport.
China rejected the US president's criticisms as "interference" in its internal affairs, and insisted it "put its people first". Meanwhile, 40 Olympian athletes wrote to President Hu Jintao expressing their concerns over Beijing's handling of anti-Chinese unrest in Tibet.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44902000/jpg/_44902695_a4c66a19-b9bf-4a86-8555-a3f2dc5e9700.jpg (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7493757.stm)
World leaders gather for Olympics
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44902000/jpg/_44902649_f5e13132-bd90-40d0-99aa-7a7e11651b49.jpg
Mr Bush was among the leaders touching down in China for the Games
Leaders and dignitaries from around the world are gathering in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
The event will involve about 10,000 performers, and will be watched on TV by an estimated four billion people.
The lead-up to the Games has been overshadowed by issues such as China's human rights record, internet access, and air pollution in Beijing.
US President George W Bush expressed "deep concerns" over human rights before flying to Beijing.
Mr Bush, who was in Thailand on the eve of the opening ceremony, voiced "firm opposition" to China's detention of dissidents - while stressing that he wanted the focus during the Games to be on sport.
China rejected the US president's criticisms as "interference" in its internal affairs, and insisted it "put its people first". Meanwhile, 40 Olympian athletes wrote to President Hu Jintao expressing their concerns over Beijing's handling of anti-Chinese unrest in Tibet.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44902000/jpg/_44902695_a4c66a19-b9bf-4a86-8555-a3f2dc5e9700.jpg (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/7493757.stm)