Many Chinese-Canadians living in Metro Vancouver were beaming with pride Friday as they watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Others quietly protested China's human rights record. The spectacle in Beijing is also a reminder that Vancouver's time in the world spotlight is looming. Vancouver will be the next city to host an Olympic opening ceremony.

In downtown Vancouver, the beginning of the Beijing Olympics had children flipping and jumping across the lawn of the art gallery.

Out in Richmond, thousands watched from inside a shopping mall, as the Olympic athletes entered the Beijing stadium in China during the opening ceremonies . In Richmond, they arrived as early as 3 a.m., to sit and stand in front of a giant screen for the 5 a.m. broadcast.

Organizers hoped for a crowd count of 2008, to commemorate the year.

While Richmond is home to one of Canada's largest Chinese communities, they were not the only group to celebrate. Canadians across the country came out to watch public displays of pride.

"As a Chinese Canadian, I feel good, because my country finally did something really special. And it's so cool,'' said Simon Wong, a Chinese Canadian.

But not everyone was watching. Outside Vancouver's Chinese Consulate, activists were starving themselves. A 24-hour hunger strike in protest of China's human rights record.

"I'm boycotting the Olympics entirely, I think it violates what the Olympics is supposed to be for,'' said protestor Randy Galawan.

Others were watching, and wondering just how Vancouver's ceremonies might compare, in 2010.

So far, Vancouver's budget for all opening, closing and medal ceremonies, is less than the $100 million Beijing spent on their opening show alone.

Still organizers here say they may pay less, but there's still lot's to learn from Friday's theatrics in Beijing.

"The amount of volunteers required to do that behind the scenes is incredible,'' said Dick Vollet, a spokesman for the Vancouver Olympic Organizing committee, VANOC.

"I mean we all watch and think it happens just the way it does, but that's really what we're hoping to see is how that all works and how they make that happen,'' he said.

With a report by CTV British Columbia's Sarah Galashan