The 2008 Beijing Olympics kick off Friday for a 17-day run under the slogan 'One World, One Dream.'

The opening ceremony starts at 9 p.m. at the main Olympic stadium.

Some ten-thousand athletes from 205 countries will compete in 28 events for 302 gold medals.

Korea has sent 267 athletes to participate in 25 events hoping to nab ten golds to finish in the top ten.

The national soccer team, led by coach Park Sung-wha, plays its first preliminary against Cameroon on Thursday.

The Korean Broadcasting System will relay the opening ceremony on KBS channel 1 starting at 8:50 p.m. Friday.