Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev (L) and his wife Sara wave as they watch the festivities during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Chinese capital on August 8, 2008. The 29th Olympic Games, costing an estimated 40 billion USD and shrouded by political controversies, burst into life with a spectacular start to the opening ceremony. Getty Images logo Getty Images 18 months ago

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev (L) and his wife Sara wave as they watch the festivities during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the Chinese capital on August 8, 2008. The 29th Olympic Games, costing an estimated 40 billion USD and shrouded by political controversies, burst into life with a spectacular start to the opening ceremony.

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