CWCh07: The spectacle is on
The opening ceremony took place last night and it's take off for the championship. Watch the video.
Superb atmosphere during the opening ceremony. Photo: Eric Van Geluwe
The opening ceremony took place last night and it's take off for the championship. Watch the video.
Throughout the entire day the Top30 officials were busy welcoming and processing the many participants who were queuing outside the Avilés sports pavilion for the official registration and having their accreditations issued. There was definitely an air of expectation amongst the athletes and a desire to get on with it.
Except for the previously released news concerning Yuji Hirayama's absence thru injury, all the favorites have reported for 'duty.' The German team however was somewhat delayed by late incoming flight but should be duly in place for the competitive action itself.
The opening ceremony
The organization committee had tried to keep a lid on the details of the opening ceremony, which attracted quite a number of people. And it is an understatement to say that people were impressed. It was a grand ceremony displaying all the flags of the participating countries, the traditional parade and of course the welcoming speeches, the athlete's and judges' pledge and everything else worthy a championship of this stature and scale. And a surprise finish.
Joan Garrigos (FEDME president), Leslie Baxter (IFSC sport manager), Alexander Piratinsky (IFSC vice-president) and of course the mayor of Avilés, Pilar Varela all took the stand and wished for a successful championship and even Top30 got their fair share of praise for their effort in launching the big event and for the company's support of competition climbing in general.
The icing on the cake was the stunt devised by Manuel Solis (Director of the FDM) and performed by Patxi Arocena (who else?) who climbed to the top of the wall with the IFSC flag tailing. After being lowered off Arocena celebrated his effort with zip (or two or three) of the very traditional Asturian cider and proceeded to offer it to the cheering crowd.
Throughout the entire day the Top30 officials were busy welcoming and processing the many participants who were queuing outside the Avilés sports pavilion for the official registration and having their accreditations issued. There was definitely an air of expectation amongst the athletes and a desire to get on with it.
Except for the previously released news concerning Yuji Hirayama's absence thru injury, all the favorites have reported for 'duty.' The German team however was somewhat delayed by late incoming flight but should be duly in place for the competitive action itself.
The opening ceremony
The organization committee had tried to keep a lid on the details of the opening ceremony, which attracted quite a number of people. And it is an understatement to say that people were impressed. It was a grand ceremony displaying all the flags of the participating countries, the traditional parade and of course the welcoming speeches, the athlete's and judges' pledge and everything else worthy a championship of this stature and scale. And a surprise finish.
Joan Garrigos (FEDME president), Leslie Baxter (IFSC sport manager), Alexander Piratinsky (IFSC vice-president) and of course the mayor of Avilés, Pilar Varela all took the stand and wished for a successful championship and even Top30 got their fair share of praise for their effort in launching the big event and for the company's support of competition climbing in general.
The icing on the cake was the stunt devised by Manuel Solis (Director of the FDM) and performed by Patxi Arocena (who else?) who climbed to the top of the wall with the IFSC flag tailing. After being lowered off Arocena celebrated his effort with zip (or two or three) of the very traditional Asturian cider and proceeded to offer it to the cheering crowd.
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