Nanjing 2014 served up an impressive curtain-raiser. Nearly all of the performers were students from universities around China. Designed to appeal to young people and capture the youthful vitality and spirit of the YOG, the ceremony embraced the concept of the ‘sound and light’ show with an imaginative blend of colour, music and physical performance.
As is the custom for all Olympic opening ceremonies, proceedings kicked off with the Parade of Athletes. Each of the 204 country delegations comprised just a single flagbearer marching behind a Chinese “host”, while the rest of their team-mates enjoyed the spectacle from the stands, along with dignitaries such as the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and IOC Honorary President Jacques Rogge, whose brainchild the Youth Olympic Games had been during his tenure as President.
In time-honoured Olympic tradition, Greece led the way in the Parade, which culminated with the host nation, China, who boasted the largest delegation, and whose athletes will be competing in all 28 disciplines at Nanjing 2014.
The Olympic flag was borne into the stadium by six famous Chinese Olympians – Ren Cancan, Wu Minxia ,Liu Xiang, Lei Sheng, Wu Jingyu, Wang Liqin, Zhang Xi and Qiu Jian – before yet another core element of the Opening Ceremony was observed, as the Olympic Oath was taken by table tennis player Fan Zhendong (on behalf of the athletes), Zhou Qiurui (on behalf of the officials) and Li Rongxiang (on behalf of the coaches).
Watch the highlights here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qiwxo-pItw#t=173
