Around the World in a Minutes

Don't miss the part in which the giant ball emerges from beneath the stage. It's covered with Chinese acrobats, arranged at nine equidistant lines of latitude, who circle the globe, walking, somersaulting, etc.

Soon a depiction of the oceans and continents emerge, and the acrobats continue their movements. Not sure how the guys on the bottom, who are running upside down, pull this off. As the song "You and Me" is sung, thousands of real Olympic volunteers, not professional performers, emerge holding large photos of children from around the world. Touching moment.

Looks like the athletes are coming next. Colorfully and extravagantly costumed dancers representing China's 56 ethnic groups perform to ready the way.