SEA Games 2015 kicks off with spectacular ceremony

A colourful opening ceremony of grand display and visual treats was held at the National Stadium in Singapore on Friday night, marking the official start of the 12-day 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

An arts performance at the 28th SEA Games opening ceremony. (Credit: vnexpress.net)

Highlights of the ceremony included the stadium floor transforming into a giant screen with 160 high-definition projectors, an audience interaction system using LED medallions to form a giant video screen in the stands, and an extensive aerial performance system.

The ceremony, themed "Celebrate the Extraordinary", began with “The Big Singapore Welcome”, an arts performance by over 1,000 artists and volunteers to the song “Singapura”, showcasing the country's multi-cultural society, as well as the city state's flora and fauna.

The SEA Games mascot Nila then parachuted into the stadium to the thunderous applause from the audience, followed by a parade of athletes representing the 11 participating countries, with the Vietnamese delegation led by Quach Cong Lich, a member of the national athletics team.

After the opening remarks by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong, Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam declared the 28th SEA Games open.

Singapore's netball captain Micky Lin took the athletes' oath, swearing to compete with sportsmanship and to the best of their abilities.

The following events brought spectators a feast of lights and colours made up of five acts entitled “DNA”, “Imagination”, “Youth Expression”, “Sports in the City” and “Singapore in the Stadium”.

The opening ceremony concluded with the SEA Games torch relay and a dazzling fireworks display. Singapore’s football legend Fandi Ahmad and his son Irfan Fandi Ahmad were given the honour to light up the 19.2m cauldron, the design of which represented the human DNA chain.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)