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Nanjing Opening Ceremony promises to delight

 

Nanjing Opening Ceremony promises to delight

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AOC
Nanjing Opening Ceremony promises to delight
YOG: After years and months of preparation, excitement and anticipation, the countdown until opening of the 2nd Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing can now be measured in mere hours.

YOG: After years and months of preparation, excitement and anticipation, the countdown until opening of the 2nd Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing can now be measured in mere hours.

The Opening Ceremony kicks off Nanjing’s 12-day celebration of youth and sport at 20:00 (22:00 AEST) tonight in the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

A crowd of more than 60,000 people are expected to pack the venue for the ceremony, which will be attended by dignitaries including the Chinese President XI Jinping and IOC president Thomas BACH (GER).

Aussie athletes Max Esposito and Marina Carrier are getting pumped for their first ever Olympic Opening Ceremony.

“It is going to be something new and different for me so I am excited to see what China has to offer because they are always up to date with everything like new technology so I think it will be big and over the top which is good,” Esposito said.

“Oh my gosh I’m so excited...I have never experienced anything like this before so I don’t know what to expect so I think my imagination has gone a bit wild imagining all the possibilities,” Carrier said.

The 90-minute event has been overseen by Nanjing native and famed ceremony designer CHEN Weiya (CHN) and his team of creative staff. The formalities of the flag procession, oath taking and opening rituals will be followed by a spectacular program of entertainment.

Rumours are circulating that the ceremony will even attempt to invite the crowd to take the most Selfies ever at one time.

“If we pull it off, wow, what a pin in your cap, it will be pretty cool,” Carrier said.

“That sounds pretty exciting, I want to get in there, I want to be in that Selfie,” Esposito added.

Three dress rehearsals have been held in the venue in the past week, providing a test not only for performers and volunteers but also for the Games’ security, transport and ticketing systems.

The IOC will be broadcasting the Opening Ceremony on all their platforms and Channel 7 will air a highlights package on 7mate (Channel 73) from 1300-1430, Sunday 17 August.

Over the coming 12 days, 3800 athletes from 204 countries and regions will compete in 222 events over 28 sports. Games organisers have also produced an extensive Cultural and Educational Program to enrich their stay in Nanjing. 

YIS with Laura Judd

Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam

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