Universiade Gets Underway in Belgrade
Belgrade | 02 July 2009 |
Opening Ceremony of 25th Universiade
The ceremony, attended by leading politicians, top FISU representative, George Killian, and a healthy smattering of Serbia’s elite, was a glittering affair, involving 15,000 competitors, coaches and volunteers from more than140 countries.
Dancers, performance artists, messages from space, speeches from notables and electrical sparks, conjuring up the ghost of Nikola Tesla, completed the show.
The athletes marched in procession past cheering crowds through New Belgrade to the arena. Where the spirit of Nikola Tesla, Serbia’s electrical pioneer, was invoked as the Games’ torch was lit with a jolt of electricity.
Following a well drilled show, dubbed ‘The Universe’ and featuring performers set against colourful backgrounds and a message of good luck from space from Commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineers Mike Barratt and Koichi Wakata on the Intenational Space Station, the flags of all the participating countries were presented and Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic, officially opened the Games.
The games, in fact, had got underway, on Tuesday, and earlier on Wednesday, with basketball and football providing some of the opening action. The British women were clearly fired up for the events, beating Estonia 10-0 in the soccer competition, including a hat-trick, from Amy Cane, scored in the space of 4 minutes, and overcoming a much-fancied Serbian team in the Basketball tournament. Also in the women’s soccer, a strong Korean team comprehensively defeated Germany 4-0 in a polished display.
Thursday saw competition start in most of the remaining sports and the next fortnight will be packed with sporting action.
