I was not in China for the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In fact, I was just 16-years-old at the time, spending my hours watching copious amounts of television and battling with my GCSEs. Having watched the Ceremony from the safety of my own sofa, it was clear to see, however, that it was phenomenal. A pure master-class of showmanship, beauty, culture and, of course, fireworks.

Now, it may be unfair to compare the Opening Ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games to that of an Olympics. With a main principle of the Youth Olympic Games to allow for smaller, less prosperous nations to host the event, this should not even be a matter for discussion.

China being China, though, allows for such comparisons to be made. The nation's desire to show its efficiency, prosperity and out-and-out perfectionism becomes abundantly clear at major sporting events, and none more so than here at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

Even as we took our seats inside the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre this Chinese necessity to show order and perfection became immediately clear. Although not ideal seats for a member of the media, who, obviously, needs space to write, the seats were nonetheless strewn with bags full of props ahead of the impending ceremony.

As well as the typical Opening Ceremony media guide, these bags were filled with flags, wands, drinks and even Pack-a-Macs in case of any sudden change in climate.

The Pack-a-Mac proved a vital item in the Opening Ceremony's welcome bag ©ITG



The later of these items did indeed prove necessary as the heavens began to open in the build up to the evening spectacle. A problem, you would think. Not, however, in this case as teams of Chinese military personnel (or dressed as much) stormed into the stadium to sweep away the rain as quickly as it could fall.

Even International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, a German if you didn't know, referred to this Chinese efficiency during his opening remarks to the young athletes waiting to compete at the Games.

"Our Chinese hosts, with their great friendliness, their wonderful hospitality and their world-famous efficiency, have set the stage for you. You have already felt the enthusiasm of the thousands of volunteers welcoming us so warmly here in Nanjing, China. Thank you volunteers!

"So please join me in thanking the Chinese people, the people of the Jiangsu Province and the people of this great city of Nanjing: Thank you very much; merci beaucoup; xie xie."

The actual Opening Ceremony itself was produced by Chen Weiya, executive director of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

In true Youth Olympic Games spirit, the show got off to a lively and extravagant start, with bundles of music and dance marking just the opening warm-up act.

A host of officials show the famous Chinese efficiency as they clear up the pools of rain left ahead of the Opening Ceremony ©ITG



Before I move on to the main Opening Ceremony, I have one concern that has plagued my mind not only here in Nanjing, but whenever I cover anything to do with the Youth Olympic Games.

It may just be me being an old(ish), cynic, but I feel, and not just in the case of Nanjing, that the Youth Olympic Games is looking to appeal to a much younger generation than that of 15 to 18-year-olds.

While the official Nanjing mascot, Nanjinglele, is down-right adorable, many aspects of the Games appear to target athletes less mature than 15-18.

It may just be personal experiences back home in England, but the younger generation is not as young as it used to be; if you catch my drift.

Where cute pictures and innocent mascots may have appealed to this age range a number of years ago, our modern culture, with the advancement of technology and, most notably, social media, has grown out of this with the Games to me, feeling like they are targeted at youngsters of about 13 years-old.

A small example of this now (as I know you are dying to hear one). In a previous life I worked at a children's theme park. Only five or six years ago this theme park was mainly attended by kids aged around 13 to 15. Nowadays, however, a 15 or even 13-year-old would turn their nose up at the place, laughing at the "childish" rides on offer and lack of a real thrill.

This to me shows the way in which our youth have grown out of things that would have one day appealed to them, a matter that, if addressed by the IOC, could help save a somewhat turbulent future for the Youth Olympic Games.

Nonetheless, the Opening Ceremony here in Nanjing did prove a truly wonderful spectacle to witness. Be it the incredible acrobatic performance by the Songshan Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School who created a variety of complex shapes and patterns while suspended above the stadium, to the brilliant recreation of Zhang He's historic expeditions across the Pacific and Indian oceans, Nanjing delivered one hell of a show.

The Opening Ceremony was a truly spectacular show with highlights including the performance by the the Songshan Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School ©Getty Images



Even the Organising Committee's idealistic portrayal of China's past, or the overly assumptious reactions to each of the ceremony's segments, as written in the media guide, did not take from the brilliance of the show.

It showed a rich and entertaining insight into China, both old and new, and set up what she prove to be a highly entertaining Youth Olympic Games.

I will warn you though, prepare for a huge influx of "selifes", or as they're known here, YOGselfies, throughout the next two weeks.

And I thought the wealfie was bad enough...

Paul Osborne is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.