Years from now, long after the details of the opening and closing ceremonies at the “Bird’s Nest” Stadium in Beijing may be forgotten, the impact of the Beijing Olympics will continue to be felt worldwide.

Yes, the opening ceremonies were spectacular, mounted on a scale never seen before in any Olympic celebration. But this was much more than a display of China’s growing economic power and its immense population. The ceremonies were a true artistic triumph. Ancient traditions were combined perfectly with modern technology in a cascade of unforgettable presentations. What we Americans (and people around the world) saw at 8 PM on August 8, 2008 was pure history in the making.

Some critics have dismissed the amazing opening ceremonies as an act of propaganda or as a display of excess. But I say nothing could miss the point more completely.

The Olympic ceremonies were much more than a coming-out party; they mark the restoration of a great nation. How quickly the critics forget that for a hundred years, China had suffered war, foreign exploitation, invasion, and economic challenge. Suddenly, China is on a path to become the largest economy in the world.

As well as announcing China’s historic reemergence onto the world stage, the Beijing Olympic Games and the opening ceremony marked an opening of China’s doors to the world. In a society that venerates symbols, few could be more powerful than the artwork laid out at centerfield.

Thousands of athletes walked through trays of colored dye and, with their feet, left a permanent and beautiful record of their presence on China’s huge “welcome mat.” Instead of rejecting foreigners, the Chinese have actually turned the record of their visit into a work of art that will be treasured for centuries to come.

More than a billion Chinese, who may previously not have had a view of any nation other than their own, suddenly saw a vast global reality. They saw the world visit their home and join China in a glorious Olympic tradition that has never before found a home in China. What a breathtaking site!

Just as Yao Ming embraced the nine-year-old hero of the Sichuan earthquake, China effectively opened its heart to the rest of the planet. This will eventually be recognized as a watershed moment in history. Fourteen thousand performers, ninety-one thousand cheering spectators, countless fireworks, and the proud athletes of an increasingly globalized world have joined to witness a turning point in the world’s economic, cultural and political history. Congratulations to China.