Fireworks explode during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the National Stadium, August 8, 2008. The stadium is also known as the Bird's Nest. [Agencies]

The Wall Street Journal said on its website that the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games "is expected to attract 4 billion viewers, probably the largest number in Olympic history".

The World Journal said in an editorial the Beijing Olympic Games opened successfully, as wished by 1.3 billion Chinese people and overseas Chinese. It was a big day for China.

CNN, ABC and Yahoo also gave wide coverage to the opening ceremony.

Japanese front page news

In Japan, nearly all the major newspapers - Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun and Nihon Keizai Shimbun published news of the grand event on the front pages of their evening editions.

The state broadcaster NHK (Nihon Hoso Kyokai) televised live the entire ceremony.

Kyodo News and Jiji press, the two leading Japanese news agencies, continuously updated their news items about the event and released striking pictures of the performances at the ceremony.

"Tonight, the Bird's Nest was turned into a red sea of joy with smiling faces everywhere," Mainichi Shimbun said

To host the Olympics, which was a 100-year dream of the Chinese people, will speed up China's development toward maturity, Jiji press said.

Spaniards 'delighted'

The Spanish media was impressed and delighted with Friday's opening ceremony of the Games.

The spectacular event was seen live by around five million Spaniards, and was the main item of Friday evening's news bulletins.

Television channel Antena 3 described the ceremony as "an astonishing effort". While Cuatro called it "impressive".

Radio station Cadena COPE said it was "the most dramatic Olympic opening ceremony ever".

Television Espanola - the state-owned channel that holds the rights to screen the Olympics - featured an interview with Crown Prince Felipe, who is head of the Spanish delegation.

Prince Felipe said their Chinese hosts had made them feel "very welcome indeed", and that "we are hoping for a very strong Spanish performance here".

Spain is hoping to improve on its performance four years ago in Athens, where it won 19 medals.