A spectacular ceremony at the packed Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz yesterday evening heralded the start of the 14th edition of these Games.
The ceremony started with a feature named “Enter the Circus”, that included the march-past of all the athletes from the nine participating countries. Six hundred and eighty seven athletes are taking part in this edition.
The march-past of athletes started with Andorra, followed by Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, and finally, the host country, Liechtenstein.
Malta’s contingent looked very smart in their red and white tops and blue trousers. It was led by flag-bearer Bradley Hindle Deguara, a Squash player and was led by the Maltese Olympic Committee’s Chef de Mission, Mark Cutajar.
I must say that it was an emotional moment for me to see the Montenegro contingent at the march-past. Having attended all the previous editions of the Games, it was a special moment to see the newcomers joining the GSSE.
It was followed by a speech from Leo Kranz, president of the Liechtenstein Sports Association and president of the Organising Committee.
Then it was the turn of Patrick Hickey, president of the European Olympic Committee, under whose aegis these Games now fall, who addressed the crowd present. International Olympic Committee President, Dr Jacques Rogge, also delivered an address.
Then, there was a show with the participation of musicians, jugglers, unicyclists, members of Special Olympics, dancers, ballet, breaker dancers, line-dancers, pupils and climbers.
The Olympic torch was then uncovered and that was followed by members of Special Olympics carrying the GSSE flag which was raised on a pole in the centre of the field. The referees’s oath was taken by Philippe Schurmann (volleyball) while Liechtenstein tennis player Kathinka von Deichmann took that on behalf of the athletes.
The LieGames song was then played for the first time.
The Games were officially opened by HSH Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein which was followed by the lighting of the Olympic flame.