World Championships declared open!
Posted on | August 15, 2011 | Category: News
Barbados team arriving to the Opening Ceremony.
The 28th World Orienteering Championships and the 8th World Trail Orienteering Championships were declared open by IOF President Åke Jacobson at a colourful Opening Ceremony in the outdoor Theatre de Verdure in the centre of Aix-les-Bains today.
All the 52 nations’ teams marched in procession through the town to the theatre, led by the town firemen’s brass band dressed in ceremonial uniform including steel helmets. Each team was separately presented to the large assembly of spectators as they marched across the stage in their national team dress.
A couple of speeches of welcome, spoken in both English and French, were interspersed with the mellow sound of alpine horns playing soft melodies in harmony by three experts dressed in traditional costume, along with a short performance by a local folk dance group. Åke Jacobson then gave a short speech and declared the Championships open.
There were big welcomes by the crowd for some of the newer nations taking part, including Barbados, Brazil and Greece. It was evident too that there were many supporters present from the neighbouring countries Italy and Switzerland. There was also a good cheer for Kyrgyzstan, from where the only competitor is in a wheelchair, entered in the Paralympic class in the Trail Orienteering Championships.
The sprint qualification races use the same theatre as event centre tomorrow (Tuesday) morning; the women race from 9.00 to 9.55 and the men from 9.35 to 10.45. The sprint finals are tomorrow afternoon in Chambery starting at 15.00. And Tuesday is also the first competition day for the TrailO Championships. Why not follow the action live on www.woc2011.fr ?
IOF President Åke Jacobson thanked the Deputy Mayor of Aix-les-Bains, Michel Frugier for all his support to the World Championships, and gave him a dedicated copy of the Anniversary Orienteering World.
Photos: Laszlo Zentai
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