Turin Welcomes Winter Olympics with Star-Studded Opening Extravaganza
2006-02-11 03:47:21
CRIENGLISH.com
Hosts Turin welcomed their first Winter Olympics in 50 years with a star-studded Opening Ceremony to inaugurate the 20th Winter Games.
(A skater performs during the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics at the 35,000-seat Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Photo: AFP)
Hosts Turin welcomed their first Winter Olympics in 50 years with a star-studded Opening Ceremony to inaugurate the 20th Winter Games.
The festivities lasting two-hours 15 minutes began at 2000 local time (1900GMT) before a full house of 35,000 spectators in the Olympic stadium, with an estimated two billion expected to follow the proceedings on television worldwide. Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi was joined by US First Lady Laura Bush, along with movie stars Sophie Loren and Susan Saradon, both US Goodwill Ambassadors, who will help to carry the Olympic flag.
Organisers have promised an event filled with "Rhythm, Passion and Speed" to showcase Italian culture and history capped with a performance by Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and the participation former top model Carla Bruni and designer Giorgio Armani. Creative director Marco Balich, who has worked with rock groups U2 and Pink Floyd in the past, warned that red flames emanating from the helmets of inline skaters, dubbed the "Sparks of Passion, were chosen to show the speed with which Italians love to live.
During the ceremony Olympians will enter in the traditional parade of nations, a segment lasting more than 30 minutes in which athletes from some 80 countries parade by. Greece take their traditional spot at the lead with Italy entering last as the host team.
Producer: Lu Xiaohong 
