One year countdown to Beijing Olympics

Tiananmen Square was the centre of celebrations today as the countdown to the Beijing Games reached the one-year mark, an event China’s communist government hopes will showcase the country’s rising political and economic clout.

Eight is a lucky number in China, so the magic moment was to come at 8.08pm and 8 seconds (local time) marking one year until next year’s opening ceremony on August 8, 2008.