Costa Rican officials Saturday lauded Friday's dazzling opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The beginning and the ending of the ceremony were breathtaking and the entire show can be described as a "miracle," said Vice Minister of Sport and Health Osvaldo Pandolfo.

"It is marvelous. I have never watched a show like this," he told Xinhua. "On behalf of the Costa Rican sportsdom, I appreciate the audio-visual feast offered by China," he added.

Finance Minister Guillermo Zuliga said the order and precision of the opening ceremony were stunning which made him adore Chinese history and culture even more.

"We are more convinced about the rightness of establishing diplomatic ties with China," said the minister.

Senator Elizabeth Fonseca told Xinhua that the ceremony in Beijing's National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, was the best she had ever seen.

"In short, it was spectacular," she said.

Monica Araya, president of the Costa Rican export chamber (CADEXO), said the show reminded her of the China visit she made last year when she witnessed the construction of the Bird's Nest.

"It (the stadium) is stunning... I think China has made a tremendous contribution to the progress of mankind," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)