Madrid - Spanish media was impressed and delighted with Friday's opening ceremony of the Olympic games in Beijing.
The spectacular event was seen live by around five million Spaniards, and was then the main feature in the Friday evening news bulletins.
Television channel Antena 3 described the ceremony as "an astonishing effort," while Cuatro called it "awesome and impressive."
Radio station Cadena COPE said it was "the most dramatic Olympic opening ceremony ever."
Television Espanola - the state-controlled channel that holds the rights to screen the Olympics - featured an interview with crown prince Felipe, who is the head of the Spanish delegation.
Prince Felipe said their Chinese hosts had made them feel "very welcome indeed," and that "we are hoping for a very strong Spanish performance here."
Spain is hoping to improve on its performance four years ago in Athens, where it won 19 medals.
The best-ever Spanish performance was on home soil in Barcelona in 1992, when 22 medals were won.
Spanish sport is riding on a wave of optimism at the moment, after the national football team's triumph at Euro 2008, followed by the success of tennis star Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon and of Carlos Sastre in the Tour de France. (dpa)
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