President Mary McAleese has sent a message of goodwill to the Irish Olympic squad as it prepares to participate in the Olympic Games.
Mrs McAleese said the nation would be spurring on the athletes and would share their achievements with 'pride and admiration'.
Leaders and dignitaries from around the world gathered in Beijing for the opening ceremony of the Games this afternoon.
Some 11,000 athletes from 205 countries will compete in more than 300 events over the next two-and-a-half weeks.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen also sent his best wishes to the Irish team and said qualifying for the Games was an achievement of great distinction.
An estimated one billion people watched the opening ceremony, which got underway at 1.08pm this afternoon.
It featured a cast of thousands directed by acclaimed Chinese movie director Zhang Yimou.
The ceremony began with thunderous drumming - celebrating the arts and achievements of imperial China - with a troupe intoning one of the sayings of Confusius, about friends having come from afar.
Sailing star Ciara Peelo, 28, from Malahide in Dublin carried the Irish flag, leading the Irish team in their parade through the ceremony.
The ceremony culminated in the lighting of the Olypmic cauldron by Li Ning, the Chinese gymnast who captured three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The lead-up to the Games has been overshadowed by issues such as China’s human rights record, internet access and air pollution in Beijing.
