China welcomed the world with a "carefully scripted" and "appropriately dazzling" opening ceremony of the Olympics, the San Jose Mercury News reported on Friday.

"This was China's moment, one the nation of 1.3 billion had been crafting for years," the paper said. "On 08/08/08, at 8:08 p.m., the world stopped to watch China."

"China had it all under control Friday night, even managing to make the Chinese and Olympic flags flutter prettily in the breeze," said the paper. "Which was interesting since there was zero air circulation inside the Bird's Nest stadium."

"As of today, the script is tossed out, and the Games are on. China can't be sure that the next 16 days will go as smoothly as the opening ceremony," the paper said.

The paper marveled at China's ability to organize the grand event, saying China put on quite a show.

"For decades China walled itself off, but this month it has invited in the world," the paper said. "These Games, awarded in 2001 with some crafty double-speak on humanitarian issues by the IOC, are designed to introduce China as a world superpower, and Friday's extravaganza was its greeting card."

China has been planning for this moment since 1993, when it was passed over in favor of Sydney for the 2000 Games.

"In the ensuing 15 years, the ancient culture has fast-forwarded, condensing the 20th century into a few years and plunging headfirst into the 21st," the paper said.

"Friday's production reflected that dichotomy between old and new, with homage paid to China's great inventions - gun powder, paper, movable type and the compass - with a high-tech twist," the paper noted.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2008)