BEIJING — There are numerous slogans plastered on walls and Web sites with equal frequency in Beijing. The "One World, One Dream" Olympic motto and "Light the passion, share the dream" theme for the torch relay are prominently featured.
There's an unofficial motto — a mood, really — that's visible in this city, too: joy. It takes many sizes and shapes, often in the form of a smile, other times in the enthusiasm the Chinese use to express "Welcome to Beijing" to foreign visitors. The fact that the world's eyes are focused on China provides pride for the world's most populous nation.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in the passion and commitment that went into the preparations for the opening ceremony, a grand event featuring 15,000 performers.