BEIRUT: The sixth Francophone Games kicked off in spectacular fashion Sunday with a lavish opening ceremony in Beirut. Thousands of fans packed into Camille Chamoun stadium as more than 70 million television viewers worldwide tuned in to see the extravagant launch. The ceremony was attended by top Lebanese politicians including President Michel Sleiman, caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabhi Berri.
In addition, delegates from 44 nations watched from the stands, including French Prime Minister Francois Fillio, who is expected to meet with Sleiman, Hariri and Berri in the coming days. Prince Albert of Monaco and Abdou Diouf, secretary general of the Francophone organization, were also present.
Inaugurating the games, Sleiman praised Lebanon as a country that typified the Francophone organization’s key values of solidarity, diversity and excellence.
“Today’s event underlines that Beirut is the mother of dialogue. [It is a city] that embraces West and East,” he said. Sleiman welcomed international delegations “to the nation of the Cedars where all races come closer and unite through a universal language” of tolerance.
“This event emphasizes Lebanon’s presence in the Arab world as a democratic state that brings together all people,” and added that the country’s Constitution guaranteed coexistence for its multi-confessional society.
The Francophone Games are being held in an Arab country for their first time since their inception in 1989 and the coming 10 days will see more than 3000 participants from 68 countries compete in a variety of cultural and sporting events. The launch in Beirut was the first Francophone opening ceremony to be simultaneously broadcast in five continents as spectators from across the globe tuned in to see their countries’ teams.
The opening ceremony was preceded by performances from the Internal Security Forces marching band, as well as military formation displays by Lebanese Army soldiers.
The games’ participants paraded in front of the lively crowd, with many teams dressed in traditional national costumes, providing a vibrant spectacle for sports fans and politicians alike. A stunning sound and light display followed, featuring plays, songs and poetic recitals about Lebanon’s diverse cultural history performed by more than 100 musicians, actors and dancers.
Dance routines included a mass rendition of the traditional Lebanese dance, the debke, as well as a troop of whirling dervishes and a contemporary dance performance, specially choreographed for the occasion.
Lebanese singer Magda al-Roumi wowed the audience with her rousing rendition of “Ya Beirut” before being joined for a duet with world-renowned Senegalese artist Youssen N’Dior. An impressive fireworks display brought the opening ceremony to a fitting finale.
Athletes at the games will be divided between seven sporting disciplines, including athletics, soccer, table tennis and women’s basketball. Beach volleyball is appearing for the first time on the sporting schedule in 2009. Seven cultural events will include painting, sculpture, photography and creative dance.
Soccer features heavily in the games’ schedule, with Lebanon drawn in a trough group alongside strong teams from Cameroon, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast. Games will be split between Beirut and the southern coastal city of Sidon, with the final set for October 6. The showcase match, however, will be a friendly played between Lebanon and French giants Olympic Marseille.
The large crowd was boosted as organizers chose to open the gates of Sports City to the public, although a large security presence was visible, with LAF soldiers placed in and around the stadium. Roads surrounding the arena were closed as a precautionary measure.
Security for the event, which runs until October 6, is set to be extremely tight, with thousands of soldiers and police being deployed to monitor calm at sports stadia and theatres as well as the “Francophone Village” outside of Beirut, in which all participants are currently residing.
Hariri called for a toning down of political rhetoric in the run up to the games. “I urge all political parties to exercise restraint … as the Francophone Games approach,” he said earlier this month, adding that the event was important for Lebanon as the glare of the global media would be focused on Beirut.
Canada is the most heavily represented nation at the 2009 Francophone Games with 300 participants, followed by France with 200. Lebanon is expected to compete well in the medals table, with a squad of 150 athletes and artists. Other countries competing include Armenia, Greece, Vietnam, Morocco and Egypt.
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