An Olympics, at least, for the people, about the people

BEIJING -- As promised Friday, the People's Republic of China loudly marched onto the world stage and gloriously linked hands with the world.

It became official when 90,000 Chinese fans did the wave.

During a Summer Olympics opening ceremony filled with flying fairies, dancing light bulbs, and enough fireworks to stock every roadside shack in Tennessee, the most dazzling part was the Chinese people themselves.

In a thumping lecture that honored China's rich history through its technological present -- complete with a torch lighting by a gold-medal gymnast who floated across the top of National Stadium -- the government provided the bells and whistles.

But it was the fans who added the humanity.

In sweltering, simmering 90-degree heat that turned the Bird's Nest into a wok, thousands nonetheless chirped gratefully at everything from confusing dances to rival countries.

They waved their Chinese flags at everyone, they flashed their decorative flashlights during every moment of darkness, and gasped in delight at every twist.

And, well, yeah, they even roared for Kobe Bryant.

The highlight occurred at the end of the athlete's march, with the appearance of the Chinese team led by basketball flag-bearer Yao Ming and a young boy.

The fans erupted in what may be the longest standing ovation in sports history, 13minutes strong, everyone rhythmically waving their flags and chanting "Jia You," which loosely translates to "Go for it," which is exactly what they did.

While stories of government oppression dominated the days leading up to these games, it was the simple pleasure of its citizens that stole the show.

For these Olympics to work, it has to stay that way.

For the world to put aside its distaste for China's human rights record and believe in these Games, these Games will first have to believe in themselves.

Only through the people of China can this happen. So far, they are off to good start, embracing the opening ceremony as if they were a party even as their government attempted to preach.

Certainly, the show on the stadium floor was well-staged and precisely executed. But, you know, it just wasn't much fun.

Yes, there were 2,008 drummers pounding an ancient beat, and gymnasts doing cartwheels across a giant globe, and the five Olympic rings rising mysteriously into the sky in the form of tiny lights.