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There were cheers, and there was applause. The Olympic torch climbed the Great Wall yesterday, the last day of China's seven-year wait. The red Chinese national flag, with the five yellow stars, fluttered everywhere, welcoming one and all to the Olympic Games.

Beijing was awash in colors, giving it the look of a grand festival on the eve of the Games' opening ceremony. But this, as many people said, was once-in-a-lifetime festival. The sights and sounds were varied, carnival-like all the same, with restaurants and cabbies doing brisk business.

The capital airport saw its busiest day yesterday, handling more than 300 Olympic-related flights that carried VIP guests, athletes and sports officials.