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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">[http://www.astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/Sports/Schedule_Results.aspx 7-th Asian Winter Games | Astana - Almaty 2011] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120010337/http://www.astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/Sports/Schedule_Results.aspx |date=January 20, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/asian-winter-games-officially-open .view the location of this item Asian Winter Games officially open] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724170014/http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/asian-winter-games-officially-open |date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref>

An estimated 30,000 were in attendance at the venue. There were an estimated 700 performers.<ref>[http://www.astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/News_Center/article.aspx?flag=1&id=822 Nurzhamal Usenbayeva Performed a Song with Original Music Composed by Igor Krutoy]{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
{{2011 Asian Winter Games}}

==Guests==
* [[Faisal bin Al Hussein]] - Prince of [[Jordan]]
* [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] - [[Crown Prince]] of [[Abu Dhabi]]<ref name="uaeinteract1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220154/http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/Mohammed_bin_Zayed_attends_opening_ceremony_of_the_7th_Asian_Winter_Games_2011/44264.htmMohammed 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">[http://www.ocasia.org/News/IndexNewsRM.aspx?redirect=1665 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>[http://en.ca-news.org/news/293201?from=rss 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>[http://www.astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/News_Center/article.aspx?flag=1&id=720 7-th Asian Winter Games | Astana - Almaty 2011]{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</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">[https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gGXIOEIQj3UTZ92IZ8ITzO9R9aYg?docId=CNG.bc937a1a30aafcea92c02296ce113ff6.de1 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"/>

{| class=wikitable
|-
!Order
!Nation
!Kazakh
!Flagbearer
!Sport
|-
|align=center|1
|{{flagIOC2|AFG|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Ауғанстан
|Unknown
|Chef De Mission
|-
|align=center|2
|{{flagIOC2|BRN|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Бахрейн
|
|[[Ice hockey at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Ice hockey]]
|-
|align=center|3
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Қытай
|
|
|-
|align=center|4
|{{flagIOC2|PRK|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|КНДР
|[[Ri Song Chol]]
|[[Figure skating at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Figure skating]]
|-
|align=center|5
|{{flagIOC2|HKG|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Гонконг, Қытай
|[[Wang Xinyue]]
|[[Short track speed skating at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Short track speed skating]]
|-
|align=center|6
|{{flagIOC2|IND|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Үндістан
|[[Tashi Lundup]]
|[[Cross-country skiing at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Cross country skiing]]
|-
|align=center|7
|{{IDN}}**
|
|Unknown
|Official
|-
|align=center|8
|{{flagIOC2|IRI|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Иран
|[[Alidad Saveh-Shemshaki]]
|Alpine skiing coach
|-
|align=center|9
|{{flagIOC2|JPN|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Жапония
|
|
|-
|align=center|10
|{{flagIOC2|JOR|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Иордания
|
|
|-
|align=center|11
|{{flagIOC2|KOR|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Корея Республикасы
|[[Park Woo-sang]]
|[[Ice hockey at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Ice hockey]]
|-
|align=center|12
|{{flagIOC2|KGZ|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Қырғызстан
|
|
|-
|align=center|13
|{{flagIOC2|LIB|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Ливан
|No Flag bearer*
| -
|-
|align=center|14
|{{flagIOC2|MAS|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Малайзия
|[[Haniff Mahmood]]<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/1/22/central/7816267&sec=central Malaysian ice hockey team targets a medal at Winter Games]</ref>
|[[Ice hockey at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Ice hockey]]
|-
|align=center|15
|{{flagIOC2|MGL|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Моңғолия
|
|
|-
|align=center|16
|{{flagIOC2|NEP|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Непал
|Unknown
|Official
|-
|align=center|17
|{{flagIOC2|PLE|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Палестина
|[[Mohammed El Batta]]
|[[Alpine skiing at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Alpine skiing]]
|-
|align=center|18
|{{flagIOC2|PHI|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Филиппин
|[[Zhaira Costiniano]]
|[[Figure skating at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Figure skating]]
|-
|align=center|19
|{{flagIOC2|QAT|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Катар
|[[Thamer Al-Mohannadi]]<ref>[http://www.qatarolympics.org/topics/index.asp?g=FA8A96F1-A0BC-465F-B736-B35B6F32F7B7 Spectacular opening for Asian Winter Games]</ref>
|[[Speed skating at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Speed skating]]
|-
|align=center|20
|{{flagIOC2|SIN|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Сингапур
|[[Lucas Ng]]
|[[Short track speed skating at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Short track speed skating]]
|-
|align=center|21
|{{flagIOC2|TPE|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Қытай Тайбэйі
|
|
|-
|align=center|22
|{{flagIOC2|TJK|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Тәжікстан
|
|[[Alpine skiing at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Alpine skiing]]
|-
|align=center|23
|{{flagIOC2|THA|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Таиланд
|
|[[Ice hockey at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Ice hockey]]
|-
|align=center|24
|{{flagIOC2|UAE|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Біріккен Араб Әмірліктері
|
|[[Ice hockey at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Ice hockey]]
|-
|align=center|25
|{{flagIOC2|UZB|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Өзбекстан
|
|
|-
|align=center|26
|{{flagIOC2|KUW|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Кувейт
|
|[[Ice hockey at the 2011 Asian Winter Games|Ice hockey]]
|-
|align=center|27
|{{flagIOC2|KAZ|2011 Asian Winter Games}}
|Қазақстан
|
|
|}
'''*'''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>[http://www.larafabiangmtb.com/2011/01/asian-winter-games-30012011.html 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">[http://www.ocasia.org/News/IndexNewsRM.aspx?redirect=1679 ‘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">[http://www.astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/News_Center/article.aspx?flag=1&pagenum=1&id=826 Olympic Council of Asia Flag hoisted on the AG Opening Ceremony]{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</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 (skier)|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 [[Koreans|Korean]] oprea singer [[Sumi Jo]] singing "Angels Pass Away".<ref>[http://www.astana-almaty2011.kz/gis/menu/en/News_Center/article.aspx?flag=1&pagenum=1&id=828 Opening Ceremony was finished with Lighting the Cauldron of the 7th Winter Asian Games]{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Finally, another barrage of fireworks that lit up the night sky of the Kazakhstan capital to close the show.<ref name="google1"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2011 Asian Winter Games Opening Ceremony}}
[[Category:2011 Asian Winter Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games opening ceremonies]]
[[Category:Ceremonies in Kazakhstan]]

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