Kaohsiung Rocks! Spectators Showed Great Participation in The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung / 高雄真棒 全民熱情參與「2009世界運動會」
Kaohsiung Rocks!
Spectators Showed Great Participation in The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung
◎Text by Fu-Ju Lin
◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao
On July 16th, The World Games 2009 kicked off at Main Stadium in the host city, Kaohsiung, with the participation of athletes from 103 countries. This is the first time that Taiwan has hosted such a grand event. This historic moment for Taiwan was witnessed by 45,000 people at the stadium, as well as billions of people around the world who watched the event live on PTS and other media locations. From July 16th to July 26th, a total of 26 official games, 5 invitational events, and 6 sports parks activities took place.
As President of KOC and Mayor of the host city, Mayor Chu Chen extended her welcome to the participants from all over the world. She thanked IWGA for the opportunity granted to Kaohsiung for hosting such an enormous international sports event. Mayor Chen emphasized that despite the different colors and languages spoken by the 5000 athletes and coaches from 103 countries, everyone shares a common TWG spirit - peace, friendship, and collaboration.
The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Opening Ceremony demonstrated Taiwan's characteristics and friendships with other countries in a magnificent way. It showed great power and touched everyone's heart with its three main shows: "Formosa", "Praying with All" and "Dynamic Kaohsiung" , followed by the never-seen-before "circling" fireworks which are only 40 meters away from the audience. IWGA President, Ron Froehlich, described the Opening on the 16th as "marvelous" . He also called The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung the best games ever!
On July 26th, The World Games ended with integrated shows of fireworks, visual arts, music, and stage performances which symbolized joy and the passage from one generation to the next. What was special about the ceremony is that the audience became part of the show when everyone in the stands lit the hand-held LED devices. A galaxy of lights was formed by the 120,000 shining blue rays from 40,000 spectators. The beautiful lights marked the beginning of the closing ceremony and yet a perfect ending for The 8th World Games.
IWGA President, Ron Froehlich, expressed his high recognition of The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung. He said Kaohsiung should be proud of the successful ending of The 8th World Games. It was a great achievement for the city. On behalf of everyone, he gave his thanks to the support of the city government. He remarked, "The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung is the most successful ever!"
高雄真棒
全民熱情參與「2009世界運動會」
◎文／無明 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
台灣第一次、由高雄市主辦之「2009世界運動會」，7月16日在來自103個國家5983位運動選手及教練參與下，於高雄世運主場館盛大揭幕！透過公共電視頻道及網路的實況轉播，全球數億觀眾與現場45000名觀眾，同步見證世運開幕─台灣運動史最燦爛的一刻。從7月16日起至26日止，展開26項正式比賽、5項邀請賽及6項表演活動。
高雄市長陳菊以主辦城市市長、KOC董事長身份、歡迎來自世界各地朋友熱情參與，感謝IWGA（世界運動總會）給高雄市這個機會舉辦這場空前盛大的世界運動會。陳市長表示，世運會有來自103個國家、將近5000名的選手、教練來到高雄，我們有著不同的語言與膚色，但卻擁有共同的和平、友誼、合作之世運精神。
高雄世運的開幕典禮壯闊地表現出台灣元素及世運友誼，開幕典禮包括「福爾摩沙」、「萬民祈福」、「活力高雄」三段主秀表演，最後更有全台首見「環跑式」煙火，距煙火距離只有40公尺，感動與氣勢獨一無二。IWGA主席朗弗契以「精彩絕倫」來形容16日晚上舉辦的2009高雄世運會開幕典禮，並稱是世界運動會史上最精采的一場開幕典禮。
而象徵傳承與歡樂的世運閉幕典禮於26日登場，結合煙火、影像、音樂、舞台表演等豐富元素的互動演出，最特別的是，每位觀眾也都化成節目表演的一角，從看台上一起打亮手中的LED小燈，瞬間，現場40000名觀眾12萬顆閃耀的藍光，匯聚成黑夜中閃閃發亮的星河，美不勝收，為閉幕演出震撼開場，亦為第八屆世界運動會畫上完美句點。
IWGA主席朗佛契給予高雄世運高度肯定。他說，這次世界運動會的圓滿成功，是高雄值得引以為榮的傑出成就，他代表所有人對這次高雄市民的支持致上感謝之意，「2009高雄世運是有史以來最成功的世界運動會」！
原住民於開幕典禮的舞蹈表演
Indigenous People performan at opening Ceremony
閉幕典禮的煙火表演
Firework at closing ceremony