An Olympic production

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Olympics organizers on Thursday night conducted a full-scale dress rehearsal of the Aug. 8 opening Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Games.

Word of the secret run-through came via the Xinhua news agency, which credited China’s Central Television (CCTV).

The report said that the 3 1/2-hour ceremony was conducted inside the new National Stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics and Paralympics. The stadium is known as the Bird’s Nest because of its interwoven steel beams.

The ceremony apparently will include a tribute to victims of the devastating May 12 earthquake.

Workers are putting the final touches on the venue, Xinhua reported.

--Greg Johnson