2011 Asian Winter Games opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 2011 Asian Winter Games was held at the Astana Arena, in Astana, Kazakhstan. It began at 6:00 PM (UTC+06:00) on 30 January 2011 and lasted approximately three hours.[1][2]

An estimated 30,000 were in attendance at the venue. There were an estimated 700 performers.[3]

Guests

Program

Opening section

A dramatised performance based on traditional Kazakh epic poems accompanied by a group of ethnic drummers, which was followed by a volley of red fireworks began the show.[8]

National anthem

Members of the Kazakhstan army marched the Kazakh flag to the flagpost. The anthem was then sung by Azamat Zheltyrguzov while the flag was risen.[8]

Parade of Nations

According to the Olympic Council of Asia's protocols, countries will march in order of their IOC Code.[1] Below is list of countries that are confirmed to compete and their national flagbearers during the ceremony. All the countries were given warm receptions by the crowd, however a deafening welcoming roar was given to the home team.[1]

Order Nation Kazakh Flagbearer Sport
1  Afghanistan Ауғанстан Unknown Chef De Mission
2  Bahrain Бахрейн Ice hockey
3  China Қытай
4  North Korea КНДР Ri Song Chol Figure skating
5  Hong Kong Гонконг, Қытай Wang Xinyue Short track speed skating
6  India Үндістан Tashi Lundup Cross country skiing
7  Indonesia** Unknown Official
8  Iran Иран Alidad Saveh-Shemshaki Alpine skiing coach
9  Japan Жапония
10  Jordan Иордания
11  South Korea Корея Республикасы Park Woo-sang Ice hockey
12  Kyrgyzstan Қырғызстан
13  Lebanon Ливан No Flag bearer* -
14  Malaysia Малайзия Haniff Mahmood[9] Ice hockey
15  Mongolia Моңғолия
16  Nepal Непал Unknown Official
17  Palestine Палестина Mohammed El Batta Alpine skiing
18  Philippines Филиппин Zhaira Costiniano Figure skating
19  Qatar Катар Thamer Al-Mohannadi[10] Speed skating
20  Singapore Сингапур Lucas Ng Short track speed skating
21  Chinese Taipei Қытай Тайбэйі
22  Tajikistan Тәжікстан Alpine skiing
23  Thailand Таиланд Ice hockey
24  United Arab Emirates Біріккен Араб Әмірліктері Ice hockey
25  Uzbekistan Өзбекстан
26  Kuwait Кувейт Ice hockey
27  Kazakhstan Қазақстан

*During the Opening Ceremony Lebanon was announced to the crowd and a Placard bearer came out, but was followed by no members of the delegation. ** Indonesia had no athletes competing, rather officials participating.

Cultural Program

Kazakh opera diva Nurzhamal Usenbaeva then performed a song specially composed for the Games opening an impressive show that involved more than 700 actors and dancers including Belgian singer Lara Fabian singing her new song "Always".[1][11]

Also included in the cultural show was the history of Kazakhstan, with a bird’s eye view from an eagle swooping over the vast plains. With dance, song and distinctive musical instruments, the props came to life – notably when water cascaded from the top of the set and lighting transformed the stage into a rough sea to rock the boat looking for new lands.[12]

Also, "The gift packs for the visitors inside the 30,000-seat indoor football stadium included a bag of four snowball-size white sponge balls. Taking their lead from a band of tiny-tot performers dressed as flowers towards the end of the cultural show, the audience opened their packet of “snowballs” and proceeded to pelt anyone and everyone in sight"[12]

Entry of the Olympic Council of Asia Flag

6 famous athletes and coaches carried the flag. They were:[13]

Oaths

The athletes and jury pronounced solemn oaths before the banner of the Olympic Council of Asia.[13]

Opening remarks/Official Opening

The mayor of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov gave a speech. "The Asiad is being held by Kazakhstan due to the initiative of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The victory of an athlete is the victory of the country".[13]

This was followed by president of the Olympic council of Asia Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah also giving a welcoming speech. "Kazakhstan is a very respectful member of the international sport community. The Olympic Council of Asia congratulates President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Government of Kazakhstan, mayors and people of Astana and Almaty".[13]

The games were then officially opened by the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.[13]

Lighting of the Cauldron

The Olympic torch relay, which had criss-crossed the country during January, arrived at its final destination at the Astana Arena, with a group of the country's most decorated sports veterans jointly lighting the Games flame.[8]

This followed by Korean oprea singer Sumi Jo singing "Angels Pass Away".[14]

Finally, another barrage of fireworks that lit up the night sky of the Kazakhstan capital to close the show.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 7-th Asian Winter Games | Astana - Almaty 2011 Archived January 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ .view the location of this item Asian Winter Games officially open Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Nurzhamal Usenbayeva Performed a Song with Original Music Composed by Igor Krutoy
  4. 1 2 bin Zayed attends opening ceremony of the 7th Asian Winter Games 2011
  5. 1 2 3 Olympic Council of Asia : News
  6. ↑ CA-NEWS : President of Kyrgyzstan to attend opening of 7th Asian Winter Games in Astana
  7. ↑ 7-th Asian Winter Games | Astana - Almaty 2011
  8. 1 2 3 4 Asian Winter Games officially open
  9. ↑ "Malaysian ice hockey team targets a medal at Winter Games". Archived from the original on 2011-01-23. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  10. ↑ Spectacular opening for Asian Winter Games
  11. ↑ Lara Fabian Greek Music Treasure Box: Asian Winter Games Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. 1 2 ‘Snowball fight’ marks Opening Ceremony
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Olympic Council of Asia Flag hoisted on the AG Opening Ceremony
  14. ↑ Opening Ceremony was finished with Lighting the Cauldron of the 7th Winter Asian Games
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