China's best-known filmmaker, Zhang Yimou, was named Sunday to lead a crew of high-profile consultants including American director Steven Spielberg in designing the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Internationally acclaimed Chinese film maker Zhang Yimou, seen in this file photo, will direct the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, organizers announced on Sunday. [Reuters]

In announcing Zhang's appointment, Beijing Olympics organizers said that Spielberg would serve as a consultant along with two other foreigners who have previously managed Olympics and other sporting extravaganzas.

Though Zhang's core team is largely comprised of other Chinese impresarios, the decision to bring in foreign expertise is a rare one for Beijing, which has largely relied on local talent. But it highlights Beijing's desire for eye-catching ceremonies that will set the tone for the Olympics.

"For billions of TV viewers around the world, the opening ceremony is also the 'first impression' that the Olympic Games have to offer," Liu Qi, the head of the Beijing organizing committee, said in announcing the creative-team's appointment.

"We expect to leave an excellent impression on the athletes and guests from all over the world and billions of TV audiences by staging a fantastic opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," Liu said.

The Beijing organizing committee, known as BOCOG, began soliciting proposals for the opening and closing ceremonies 13 months ago. Out of the 409 plans received, five presentations were ultimately selected, and BOCOG said it picked the final team from the directors and producers of the five schemes.

Zhang is best known for the recent costume epic "Hero" and for earlier dramas, like "Raise the Red Lantern," that explored social tensions.