BEIJING (AP) -- Dancers cavorted, singers sang and politicians spoke of the smooth progress toward preparing for an event the communist government hopes will showcase the country's rising political and economic clout.

"From what we have seen so far, the preparations for Beijing 2008 are truly impressive in every regard," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said. "I don't think we have ever seen preparations on this scale."

Beijing's new anthem -- the just-released pop song "We're Ready" -- opened the ceremony, sung by a chorus of Chinese celebrities on a stage surrounded by banks of searchlights.

China's Communist government has been efficient in building venues. Except for the iconic "Bird's Nest" National Stadium, all of the 37 venues are to be finished by the end of this year. Venue construction has eaten up only a part of the US$40 billion (euro29 billion) being spent on new subway lines and skyscrapers to remake the capital.