Olympics: Beijing becomes party city to celebrate games victory

Fireworks lit up the night sky as Beijing erupted in celebration - some orchestrated, some spontaneous - at being selected to host the 2008 Olympics.

Thousands of people gathered at an official ceremony to await the announcement erupted in cheers when giant television screens showed International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch declaring Beijing’s selection in Moscow.

‘‘Beijing! Beijing!’’ shouted the crowd gathered in front of an outdoor stage on the west side of Beijing. Many then began singing the Chinese national anthem.

Fireworks erupted, and members of the Beijing bid committee seated at the foot of the red-draped stage jumped with joy and slapped each other on the back.

Traditional lion dancers and a group of ballerinas began dancing after the announcement as spotlights and green lasers swept the sky.

President Jiang Zemin and other members of the Cabinet and Communist Party politburo appeared briefly on stage, flakes of ash from the fireworks falling on them like snow.

‘‘Comrades!’’ Jiang shouted to the crowd. ‘‘We express our deep thanks to all our friends around the world and to the IOC for helping to make Beijing successful in its Olympic bid.’’

On Tiananmen Square in the centre of the city, people gathered around radios carrying live reports fell silent as the moment approached, and then erupted in cheers after the announcement.

Some began waving Chinese flags and beating drums.

‘‘This is a historic moment. It shows that China is becoming stronger,’’ said Leo Zhou, an 18-year-old high school student. His classmate, Cai Lei, added, ‘‘I’m really moved. It really should be Beijing. they put a lot into their planning.’’

State television carried the IOC voting in Moscow live on four channels. Another channel broadcast the official festivities in Beijing.

‘‘Warmly celebrate Beijing’s Olympic bid triumph!’’ said red Chinese characters that filled the screen after the Moscow announcement.

Taiwan’s government urged China to uphold the Olympics spirit of pursuing world peace and ‘‘renounce the use of force in the Taiwan Strait.’’

The chairman of Taiwan’s Olympics Committee said Beijing’s victory fulfilled the joint wishes of people across the Taiwan Strait.

‘‘We hope Beijing’s success will bring an opportunity to foster regional peace and world prosperity,’’ Huang Ta-chou said in a message to his mainland counterpart.

Human rights activists and the Government of the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, criticised the decision to award Beijing the games.

‘‘This will put the stamp of international approval for Beijing’s human rights abuses,’’ the Dalai Lama’s government said in a statement faxed to reporters from its headquarters in India.

In Hong Kong, more than 2,000 people gathered at an indoor sports centre at Kowloon Park broke into wild jubilation when Beijing was announced as the winner.

Another 1,000 people gathered at a shopping mall in Hong Kong’s Times Square to watch the announcement and ensuing celebrations in Beijing on a large TV screen.

‘‘This is the happiest day of my life,’’ said 19-year-old student Henry Chu.

At a seafood restaurant where patrons toasted the selection, businessman Johnson Lee said Beijing’s victory was ‘‘good for business’’ on the mainland.