Beijing, Aug. 8: China today opened its gates to culture, life and the world of sports at a hugely colourful and gala extravaganza of 24th Olympics inaugration here on Friday evening.

About 15,000 artists participated in the grand inaugural ceremony, which left spectators and dignitaries awestruck and mesmerized.

The 17-day Beijing Olympics will witness sportspersons from 205 nations competing for glory and medals. About 302 Gold Medals are up for grabs at the event.

Distinguished personalities representing 80 countries have attended the ceremony.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni took a break from three-Test series in Sri Lanka due to fatigue from constant cricket. He will return as a captain of the Indian cricket team for the five-match series against Sri Lanka and the forthcoming 2008 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Virat Kohli, the Under-19 World Cup winning captain was given a place in both the squads. Ishant Sharma was replaced by Munaf Patel in team for one-dayers in Srilanka. However Ishant Sharma will play in the forthcoming 2008 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Yuvraj Singh will be vice captain of both the squads.

Monika Devi, India's lone woman representative for weightlifting claims that she has been victim of the foul play. She was stopped at airport just before her departure for Beijing to participate in Olympic Games. Monika Devi is from Potsangbam Nachou village in Manipur's Bishnupur district. She was going to represent India in the 69 kg category at the Beijing Olympics. She had won a silver medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.

Beijing, Aug 7 : A spokesman of the has said that the weather at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony will mainly be overcast but favourable.

Yu Xinwen said that they are expecting a brief shower on Friday afternoon, but the temperature would be between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

One of the highlights of the 16-day Games, the opening ceremony will be broadcast world-wide and will see more than 100,000 athletes, performers and spectators attending the ceremony in the National Stadium, or "Bird''s Nest.”

The lifter L. Monika Devi gained support from The Indian Weightlifting Federation on Wednesday. She was charged with allegations of doping by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The sports body barred her to participate in the Beijing Olympic Games.

The Indian federation Secretary, Sq. Ldr. B.R. Gulati (retd) said that the allegation of SAI do not conform with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) rules.  He said that Monika can not be banned on these irregular charges.

The former technical advisor to Indian hockey, Mr. Ric Charlesworth has blamed the Sports Authority for India (SAI) for his resignation from his post. He condemned the role of hockey federation and said that no foreign coach can work in India under the pressure from sports body.

He said that SAI is a very inflexible body. It unnecessarily intervenes in the matters of sports administration and other related activities. He alleged that the sports body did not disclosed his contract detail in three months of joining. He had passed first three months without any fruitful event.