ATHLETES will play a leading role at the opening ceremony of the Universiade, which is due to start at Shenzhen Bay Stadium in Nanshan District on August,12th at 8 p.m. according to Shi Gang, vice head of the opening ceremony command center.
“The athletes will form part of a round stage at the stadium, which enables interaction between athletes and about 8,000 young people who will stage cultural performances during the ceremony,” Shi said on August,10th.
The athletes would be invited to dance with performers, becoming a lively part of the ceremony, Shi said.
“About 80 percent of the performers are college students,” said Shi.
The two-hour opening ceremony would include flag raising, the athletes’ entry, swearing in by athletes and judges.
The cultural performance, which is usually most eye-catching at opening ceremonies of large sports events, would be just a “foil to the rituals,” said Shi.
Although without fireworks or superstars, the ceremony would stun spectators with new technology such as color laser projection and line screen images, he said.
One of the highlights would be a huge Shenzhen-made LED wall, which was dubbed “Gate of World.”
Athletes would march through the gate into the stadium.
“The ‘Gate of World’ will open three times for athletes to enter, the official opening declaration and lighting of the Games flame on a tower beside the stadium,” said Dong Xuehai, vice chief director of the ceremony.
The flame tower would be a new city landmark after the Games, Dong said. However, Dong declined to say how the flame would be lit, but hinted it would be by an athlete.
A news conference was told yesterday that the opening ceremony would be held as scheduled in case of a light rain and there would be enough disposable raincoats.
However, it would be held in the gymnasium at the Universiade Center in Longgang District in case of a typhoon or torrential rain.
