President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan declared the first edition of the new sporting event around 19.45 hours Dutch open time.
Taekwondoka Reshmie Oogink had the Dutch flag the brand new Olympic Stadium Baku worn.
The impressive building was packed with more than 68,000 spectators, who were scattered over five rings. The opening ceremony was attended by among others President Aliyev of Azerbaijan, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, president Thomas Bach of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and president Patrick Hickey of the organizing European Olympic Committee (EOC)
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Ceremony
They saw an impressive show in which more than 2,000 extras participated. The highlight of the ceremony was, as usual at the Olympics, the entrance to the stadium of the athletes from fifty member countries.
On behalf of the Netherlands, with 119 athletes represented in Baku, Oogink bore flag. The 25 year old taekwondoka Almelo led to a modest team of about ten athletes, complemented by some supervisors.
” Some athletes, there is not yet, because they come later in action, ” said Chef de Mission Jeroen Bijl. ” Others start their tournament on Saturday and may therefore not rotate. ”
Lady Gaga
When the host finally came in, took the athletes place in the stands. From there they saw a surprise performance of the American pop star Lady Gaga.
The winner of six prestigious Grammy performed on a flower-decked piano the song “Imagine” by John Lennon.
After the Olympic flag was raised next to the blue, red and green of the Azerbaijani flag had already been raised at the start of the ceremony at the top. Aliyev could open the European Games official and went everywhere in Baku fireworks in the sky.
8 billion
The oil-rich Azeris have spared no effort for the sixteen-day sporting event. For about $ 8 billion were beautiful accommodations out of the ground and also in directing the opening ceremony money played no role.
A few hours before the opening of the Dutch water polo girls were already in action. Israel crushed the juniors in their first game with less than 29-1. Dutch athletes come Saturday for the first time in action, with medal chances for triatletes Rachel Klamer and Maaike Caelers
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