A tiny and short opening ceremony of the Taekwondo World Championships proved the ability of the Chinese producers to make a high-expected show of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Friday's opening ceremony, which cost about three million RMB (about 390,000 US dollars), lasted only 50 minutes with 1,290 participants.

Some high-tech electronic lights and four big screens were the center pieces of the night show, and the Tiger Taekwondo Team of South Korea was the only known invitation for the program.

"The opening ceremony had clear definition of the sport and the theme of the World Championships," said Lu Jiankang, one of the producers of the 2008 Olympic Games opening ceremony, on Saturday.

"It didn't have many complicated symbols, but gave simply and precise demonstration of the internationalization, popularity and beauty of the sport."

Lu is the producing manager of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony producing team, headed by international producer Zhang Yimou.

The 2008 Games opening ceremony is expected to be one of the best in the Olympic history.

Editor: Donald