The European Games, the first of their name, have officially started. The three blows were struck on Friday June 12, on a mild evening, in a Baku Olympic stadium full as an egg. The opening ceremony of the continental event promised to be grandiose and sumptuous, commensurate with the means deployed for more than two years by Azerbaijan. She was. And certainly didn't disappoint anyone.
What should we remember? Its size, for starters. No less than three hours of show, without downtime or false notes. A subtle blend of delicately oriental scenography, without ever falling into cliché, and the decorum inherent to any opening ceremony of an Olympic event. Parade of delegations, lighting of the flame, customary speeches and welcome words. Nothing was missed, not even the presence in the official gallery of a respectable gallery of world leaders, surrounding the presidential couple. Among the most noted, Vladmir Poutine, Thomas Bach, Sheikh Ahmad, Jacques Rogge…
Sometimes we had to pinch ourselves to convince ourselves that it was “only” the European Games, and not their Olympic parents. The parade of delegations itself maintained the illusion, with the Greek team entering the stadium first, Azerbaijan bringing up the rear. In terms of applause, the locals beat everyone. Normal. But the Turkish delegation made the public overwhelmed with happiness, Russia had its small success, just like France, Italy, Great Britain and Germany. If further proof was needed that Azerbaijan and its capital, Baku, want the Olympic Games and will give themselves the means to obtain them one day, this ceremony was responsible for providing it.
For the record, the flame was lit by Ilham Zakiyev (our photo), a blind judoka, injured by a shell in 1998 while wearing the uniform of the Azeri army, since crowned double Paralympic champion. The flag of the European Olympic Committees was carried into the stadium by eight gold medalists of the Games, including Frenchwoman Lucie Décosse, who won judo in London in 2012. The opening speeches were delivered in English and Azeri by Mehriban Aliyeva , there first-lady, president of the organizing committee, and by Patrick Hickey, president of the Association of European Olympic Committees (EOC).
Reduced to a handful of numbers, the opening ceremony can rival any Olympic standard. No less than 2000 dancers and extras, the majority of whom come from Azerbaijan. More than 300 people employed in the production of the evening, coming from 28 countries. Three long months of work to transform the Olympic stadium into a huge performance stage, but only three days to dismantle the decor, the organizers promise, and give it back the appearance of a sports venue. Nearly 110 km of electrical cables, 800 speakers, 2000 lights… Don’t throw any more away.
Anecdotal, certainly, but revealing of the tone of the evening: the presence of Lady Gaga, at the piano, for a single song, the indestructible Imagine by John Lennon. The American icon was in Baku, in the flesh. The public appreciated it. The media too. A way for Azerbaijan to signal to the rest of the planet that its event goes beyond the borders of Europe.
