The Daegu IAAF Games opening ceremony was held in spectacular style on Saturday. Surprisingly a friend and I were able to get tickets for 40,000w ($40) which were perfect seats in the centre of the oval on level three. I had my 9 day pass however given by the KoreaBlog which gave me daily free entrance but I had bought these tickets much earlier in anticipation. This was probably my one and only time to attend a major world sporting event, in my home town, at such low prices, so I wasnt going to pass up the chance.

The ceremonies began with a parade of costumed women who paraded in two lines into the stadium. They filled the entire length of the inside field in two rows. Then they sat in pairs facing each other and began a traditional drumming performance. This was followed by rows of green winged dancers who filed into the stadium by the drummers and began a swirling performance with their giant drapes.

Video1 : Drummers and Dancers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tul104pa n_Q

After this was the flags of nations. Bearers holding each flag marched into the main stadium. They then took their positions in the performance area by the drummers and dancers. I remember a call going out months ago for volunteer flag bearers, but they needed conversation level korean, and to be available for rehersals in august when I would be travelling.

Video 2 : Flags of Nations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUbE2wnH wKA

Next were two short flag raising ceremonies for the Korea Flag and the IAAF Flag. This was followed by welcoming addresses by the President of Korea and the President of the IAAF, after which they declared the games officially open.

Video 3 : Raising the Korea Flag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHpVufkb B0A

Video 4 : Raising IAAF Flag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qil-WzuO sIA

Now was the main entertainment performance. There was a korean female soloist that sang a medly. Unfortunately I'm not current on K-Pop to tell you who she was but I know the closing ceremonies was JYJ (more on that later).

While the singing was going on lots of dancers and performers centered in a cluster and the lights went dim. Then giant green lights floodlit the centre as they had constructed and now raised a giant ring. This lit up in a bright green to reveal a giant circle made of olive branches. They then released giant balloons into the night sky.

Video 5 : Making the Giant Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LAfSoMF O6Y

Then evening then ended with a massive fireworks performance. Unfortunately from where we were sitting we didnt get to see much thru the dome and had to look at the giant tv screens although we could clearly hear the loud bangs going on for a long time.

Video 6 : Fireworks Finale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkF5sO81 ePU

That concluded the opening ceremonies and the games began with some track events. There was high jump, long jump, shot put, and some track events. These were all opening rounds and wouldnt get to the medal stages till later days.

I thought there would be a parade of athletes like in the olympics. Also sometimes the performers and singers were facing the side of the stadium with the VIPs so had their backs to our side of the stadium. Overall I was quite impressed. I got to see an official opening ceremony for the first and probably last time. I doubt I will ever get tickets to an olympic games opening event, and congratulate the organizers and performers for a wonderful show.