Athletes, fans and members of the media from all over the world converge on Athens, Greece, for the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games (7 p.m., NBC). Always charged with emotion and patriotism, tonight’s Parade of Nations takes on special significance as the first major public international gathering since the beginning of the Iraq war. As always, the evening ends with the lighting of the torch.

While tonight’s ceremonies air only on NBC, the games will be broadcast on the network and its ever-expanding roster of sister networks, including MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo and Telemundo. The NBC-owned Sci Fi must feel left out.

Between all those networks, viewers can choose between 1,210 hours of events, which for the first time ever includes some coverage of all 28 Summer Olympic sports.

• “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” (6 p.m., Cartoon Network) is a marvelously original cartoon that will please its intended audience of 6- to 12-year-olds without driving adults from the room.

Like the best childhood fantasies, “Foster’s” explores that gray area between innocence and experience, the sad but necessary time when childhood gives way to grown-up notions. Just what happens to a child’s imaginary playmates when they get too old for them?

Rather than create a freakish world of abandonment (think of the Island of Misfit Toys from “Rudolph”), cartoonist Craig McCracken presents a joyous halfway house where imagination runs wild.

Tonight’s other highlights

• A fresh coat can change everything on “Debbie Travis’ Painted House” (7 p.m., HGTV).
• Scheduled on “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC): a woman’s 10-year ordeal of abuse and imprisonment; hair-straightening strategies; calories, portion size and common sense.
• Adrian helps his father-in-law on “Monk” (9 p.m., USA).

Late night

Due to Olympic coverage, Leno is subject to delay … Actress Halle Berry, Todd Hamilton and Maria Mena appear on a repeat “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno greets Pamela Anderson on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC).