Yifan Zhao's car sports a Beijing Olympics sticker on the back window. Sitting on his desk are the Beijing Olympic mascots â the five Fuwas. Hanging in his bathroom is a five-piece towel set with the Beijing Olympic emblem. Hiding under his shirt, on his belly, are hand-painted Olympic rings. Zhao was watching TV in a boisterous bar in Shenzhen, China, in 2001 when Beijing won the right to host the Olympics. Now a permanent resident in Canada, he sees the land of the Maple Leaf as his new home but cannot hide his pride about Beijing hosting the Olympics. "I have waited for seven years and the country has waited for a century," said a beaming Zhao, 31, explaining China's history falling victim to Western colonialists in the 19th century. Tonight, Beijing time, a lavish opening ceremony in the steel-latticed "Bird's Nest" stadium will kick off the Games, an event that could net a global television audience of more than 4 billion people.Zhao is expected to be among 3,000 people who will go to the SilverCity in Richmond Hill to watch the opening gala live on CBC at 8 minutes after 8 a.m. Doors open at 7 a.m. Admission is free and seating is first come, first served."I want people to come and share in a day of luck, prosperity and Olympic spirit," said Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan."I will cheer for both Canadian and Chinese teams and that is double fun," said Zhao. It is a sentiment shared by many Chinese-Canadians. "China is like my mom and Canada is my lover," said Diana Zhang, a marketing professional for a publishing company.For those who have to work Friday morning, a party is planned at the Foxes Den Bar & Grill at 1075 Bay St. Nine big-screen TVs will broadcast the ceremony and Olympic events from 6 p.m. to midnight. While most people settle for watching TV, some Chinese-Canadians have flown to Beijing, having faced the hassle of acquiring visas, pricey hotels and polluted air."Last year, we had about 1,000 China-bound customers between May and August, but this year we have about 1,300," said Danny Li, president of Jacco Tours, one of many major China-focused travel agencies based in Toronto.