8August2008 　　JacquesRogge,President,InternationalOlympicCommittee 　　“Thatwasspectacular.Tonight,theworldwasabletojoininamagnificenttributetotheathletesandtheOlympicspirit.Itwasanunforgettableandmovingceremonythatcelebratedtheimagination,originalityandenergyoftheBeijingGames.” 　　“Wewitnessedathletesfromthese204countriesandterritoriesunitedinpeaceinoneplace.Andforthenext16days,theywillbeapartofoneofthemostthrillingcompetitionsinhistory.AsanOlympian,Icantellyouthattheywillcarrythismemorywiththemforever.” 　　“Thisiconicstadiumisoneoftheworld’snewwonders.ItwasafittingsettingforanamazingOpeningCeremony,Ilookforwardtoanequallyexcitingandunforgettable16days.” 　　HeinVerbruggen,IOCMemberandChairmanoftheCoordinationCommissionfortheGamesoftheXXIXOlympiad 　　“OpeningceremonieshavealwaysbeenawayforhostcitiestowelcometheworldandfortheworldtogatherandsharetheOlympicspirit.ThisceremonytoopentheBeijingOlympicGameswasabreathtakingculminationofsevenyearsofplanningandpreparation.Theworldwillrememberthisforalongtime.” 　　“AsIwatchedtherehearsalsforthisceremony,Iknewthisnightwouldbeabsolutelyastonishing.However,theactualeventexceededallmyexpectations.Thiswasanunprecedentedandgrandsuccess.”