February 16: The Nordic World’s Opening Ceremony

Source: Official Oberstdorf World’s Web site http://www.oberstdorf2005.com/index.shtml?en_homepage

On February 16, No more waiting! At 6 p.m. a gigantic show at the WCS Ski-Jumping Arena is going to launch the Nordic World Ski Championships 2005 in Oberstdorf. It was in June 2000 in Melbourne (Australia) that the FIS (Féderation Internationale de Ski) chose Oberstdorf as host of the 2005 Nordic World Ski Championships. Since then, the entire team, as well as the many volunteers have been waiting anxiously for that day.

In addition to the official parts of the program, such as the opening speech given by FIS-President Gian-Franco Kasper, the words of welcome by Thomas Müller, mayor of Oberstdorf and President of the Organizing Committee, as well as the marching in of the participating nations, a gigantic entertainment program, full of captivating shows, will help getting spectators into the right mood for eleven days of competitions.

There will be no fewer than 400 active participants involved into the opening ceremony. The official mascots of the WCS, “Norda” and “Vincent”, are the central figures of a play that will show how fascinating winter time and winter sports can be. The “Wilden Mändle”, as well as a dancing group, presenting an original “Schuhplattler”, will do their best to give spectators an idea of real Oberstdorf tradition. Besides, the Worlds’ official WCS song will be played.

Directly after the opening ceremony, there will be more entertainment in the Nordic Parc. During the entire event, spectators will be offered a unique colourful program of shows. It is hard to find something alike in the Allgäu area. On February 16th, starting at 8 p.m., the “AllGeiers” will keep their audience moving. And of course, entry is free. After that, the real party lovers among the spectators can continue at the WCS-Bar until 3 a.m., before moving on to one of the town’s numerous pubs in order to get started for the next day, when the first medals will be awarded in the cross-country competitions (women’s 10 km and men’s 15 km free technique). There will be no curfew in Oberstdorf during the entire WCS.