The most amazing fireworks display I've ever seen has marked the end of the Opening Ceremony -- and the start of the Athens Games.

After spending all evening locked in the radio studio putting together a piece for Radio 4's World Tonight programme, we managed to file just in time to dash down the corridor and watch the pyrotechnics at first hand rather than on TV.

Most of the other broadcasters had the same idea. Dozens of people thundered down the corridor towards the glass front overlooking the Olympic Stadium.

However, one of the Arab TV channels was just about to go live -- and the sight of a herd of over-excited journalists heading in his direction sent him into a panic.

"We're going live, for God's sake," he screamed.

But by the time he actually began his interview the fireworks had ended and the stadium had fallen silent.

Very bad timing.