Baku, June 13, 2015 – On Friday night the Olympic Stadium was transformed into a magical stage of artistry and performance, enchanting the audience, as well as viewers around the world by an inspirational show that officially opened the first European Games.
During a two-hour spectacular event, produced by Dimitris Papaioannou, Azerbaijani’s history and culture enchanted the stadium with highlights from most famous poems by Poet Nizami, pomegranate symbolism, traditional mugham chant and rotating and emerging sceneries featured by 300 performers.
Highlights of the Journey of the Flame, Baku 2015’s torch relay, were then screened. The flame, drawn from the earth at Ateshgah on April 26 by President Ilham Aliyev, was symbolically returned to the ground in the Olympic Stadium following its tour around Azerbaijan, transferring the energy and passion of the entire country to the first European Games then lighting of the 34-metre Caspian Eclipse cauldron, which will burn throughout the Games.
Athletes’ parade by the 50 European teams participating in the Games – Kosovo, only recently admitted to the Olympic family, made its first appearance at an international multi-sports event – added gave way to the spectators’ enthusiasm. Later the flag of the European Olympic Committees Olympic carried by 8 gold medal winners was raised in the Stadium – with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev watching from the stands, sitting next to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, and 36 other heads of state.
After First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, Chair of the Baku 2015 Organising Committee, addringthe audience, thanking the EOC and IOC members present, and welcoming athletes to Azerbaijan, President of the EOC, Patrick Hickey expressed his gratitude to President Aliyev, First Lady Aliyeva, and Azerbaijan for their contribution to European sport through the first European Games.
“This is the proudest moment in the history of the European Olympic Committees,” EOC President said. “We are creating a landmark moment in European sport. Tonight we add the missing fifth ring to the continental Games of the world.” President Aliyev then officially opened the Baku 2015 European Games
Pop star Lady Gaga singing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ sitting at a flower-covered piano was a surprise addition to the ceremony, which ended by colourful fireworks and red balloons dropping on the stadium.
From today, competitions are on the front of the scene. Good luck to all athletes!
