People buy flags at Olympic Green in Beijing, China, at about 2:00 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2008, 6-hour countdown to the opening ceremony of the Olympics. The Olympic Green was decorated with lanterns and streamers to welcome visitors from all over the world. The opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be held in the National Stadium at 8:00 p.m. on Aug. 8. [Li Ziheng/Xinhua]