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.<ref name="astana-almaty1">7-th Asian Winter Games | Astana - Almaty 2011 Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>.view the location of this item Asian Winter Games officially open Template:Webarchive</ref>
An estimated 30,000 were in attendance at the venue. There were an estimated 700 performers.<ref>Nurzhamal Usenbayeva Performed a Song with Original Music Composed by Igor KrutoyTemplate:Dead link</ref> Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists
Contents
Guests
- Faisal bin Al Hussein - Prince of Jordan
- Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan - Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi<ref name="uaeinteract1">bin Zayed attends opening ceremony of the 7th Asian Winter Games 2011 </ref>
- Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah - Current IOC member representing Kuwait and president of the Olympic Council of Asia <ref name="ocasia1">Olympic Council of Asia : News</ref>
- Nursultan Nazarbayev - President of Kazakhstan <ref name="ocasia1"/>
- Jacques Rogge - President of the International Olympic Committee <ref name="ocasia1"/>
- Roza Otunbayeva - President of Kyrgyzstan<ref>CA-NEWS : President of Kyrgyzstan to attend opening of 7th Asian Winter Games in Astana</ref>
- René Fasel - President of the International Ice Hockey Federation <ref>7-th Asian Winter Games | Astana - Almaty 2011Template:Dead link</ref>
- Imangali Tasmagambetov - Current mayor of Astana
- Alexander Zhukov - Deputy Prime Minister of Russia and President of the Russian Olympic Committee <ref name="uaeinteract1"/>
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.<ref name="google1">Asian Winter Games officially open</ref>
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.<ref name="google1"/>
Parade of Nations
According to the Olympic Council of Asia's protocols, countries will march in order of their IOC Code.<ref name="astana-almaty1"/> 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.<ref name="astana-almaty1"/>
*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".<ref name="astana-almaty1"/><ref>Lara Fabian Greek Music Treasure Box: Asian Winter Games</ref>
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.<ref name="ocasia2">‘Snowball fight’ marks Opening Ceremony</ref>
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"<ref name="ocasia2"/>
Entry of the Olympic Council of Asia Flag
6 famous athletes and coaches carried the flag. They were:<ref name="astana-almaty3">Olympic Council of Asia Flag hoisted on the AG Opening CeremonyTemplate:Dead link</ref>
- Hwan Mai - Coach
- Serik Konakbayev - Former Olympic silver medalist in boxing for the USSR at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
- Kenzhe Sarsekenova - Coach
- Lyudmila Prokasheva - Former Olympic bronze medalist speed skater for Kazakhstan at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Vladimir Smirnov - Former multiple Olympic medalist cross-country skier for Kazakhstan and the USSR.
- Aliya Yussupova - Multiple gold medalist rhythmic gymnast at the 2006 Asian Games.
Oaths
The athletes and jury pronounced solemn oaths before the banner of the Olympic Council of Asia.<ref name="astana-almaty3"/>
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".<ref name="astana-almaty3"/>
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".<ref name="astana-almaty3"/>
The games were then officially opened by the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.<ref name="astana-almaty3"/>
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.<ref name="google1"/>
This followed by Korean oprea singer Sumi Jo singing "Angels Pass Away".<ref>Opening Ceremony was finished with Lighting the Cauldron of the 7th Winter Asian GamesTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Finally, another barrage of fireworks that lit up the night sky of the Kazakhstan capital to close the show.<ref name="google1"/>
