Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown carries the flag for her country's Olympic team during the opening ceremony of the 29th Games in Beijing, China. - AP

Almost on the eve of the 29th Olympiad in China, where Jamaica's prospects for gold in a number of events are high, Olivia Grange, minister with responsibility for culture and sport, described the Independence Day Grand Gala affair as a "prelude to the glory that we will experience in Beijing".

The police estimated more than 33,000 Jamaicans were in attendance at Wednesday's event held at the National Stadium on Arthur Wint Drive in Kingston.

previous attempts

Grange said that in the last decade, attempts were made to stage float parades, but these did not capture the depth of the Grand Gala event.

Clad predominantly in green, gold and black, spectators screamed with joy as they observed the grand performances. At the same time, thousands remained on the outside, some disgruntled that they did not get the opportunity to witness the cultural event firsthand.

Younger spectators marvelled at what they were seeing, saying they had never experienced the Grand Gala before, and that they wanted it to become an annual event.

Float Parade

Earlier in the day, however, those who would not have been able to enter the stadium had the opportunity to watch the Independence Day Float Parade, which was last attempted in 2002.

"My heart is so full," said Grange. "What we have done is put the pieces back together. We have taken the parade, which started in the morning at King's House, and put it back in the stadium as the ceremonial sequence of the gala."

She added: "We have given back the Grand Gala to the people."

Also in the news last week ...

Beijing 2008 Olympics off with a bang

A spectacular opening ceremony, witnessed by over 90,000 spectators at the Beijing Olympic Stadium, heralded the start of the 29th Olympiad in the Chinese capital Saturday night (China time).

Jamaica, led by flag bearer Veronica Campbell-Brown, the 2004 200-metres champion, was the 19th country to march into the hot, humid, giant stadium known as the Bird's Nest because of its unique shape.

Teams marched in based on the number of strokes of the names of the National Olympic Committees as written in simplified Chinese characters. In keeping with tradition, however, the previous hosts, Greece, came in first, with the current hosts entering the stadium last, to tumultuous applause.

President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, hailed China's role in bringing the Olympic dream to life. He said Beijing was "a host to the present and a gateway to the future".

The IOC president added: "You have chosen as the theme of these Games 'One World, One Dream'. That is what we are tonight."

Experts say September deadline for ethanol use impractical

Gas-station stakeholders on Monday labelled as unrealistic a government decision, announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, to make it mandatory for motor-vehicle fuel to include 10 per cent ethanol by next month.

Golding made the announcement last Sunday while addressing the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon for the first time as prime minister.

In response to the government directive, Errol Edwards, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers' Association, told The Gleaner yesterday that it would be unrealistic to meet a September deadline as preliminary work, such as cleaning and washing of the island's petrol stations, has yet to be done.