Christening The Bird’s Nest

Since the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing ended, rumors have circulated about who will be the first pop artist to perform in the National Stadium, nicknamed the Bird’s Nest.

Early reports in Japan speculated that the reunited hard rock group X Japan was keen on being the first, but Chinese authorities seem determined that the honor should go to one of their own.

Among the favorites are Faye Wong, Jacky Cheung, Jay Chou, and Andy Lau, with Lau leading the pack because of his overwhelming popularity in three Chinese-language markets: Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Lau’s chances of being the first are also helped by the fact that he already performed at the closing ceremony of this summer’s Olympics.