Tokyo, July 18, 2006: East will meet West at the opening ceremony of the FIVB World Championships Japan 2006 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Tuesday, October 31, organisers have revealed.
The 30-minute ceremony will involve a 60-piece classical orchestra and 200-member choir positioned in the main seating area, with a 100-strong children's chorus and 10 Taiko drummers on decorated floats on the court.
"It will be a mixture of traditional Japan with a European flavour," says Kei Yasue, the protocol and ceremony director/entertainment director for the World Championships organising committee.
"The Taiko drums will be carried on a dashi (float), with old-style flags which were flown to signal the start of a battle. In this case the battle is volleyball. The European touch is the classical orchestra, including strings, and a chorus. It will be like an opera house."
Korea and Costa Rica will play the opening Pool A game at noon, followed by Poland against Kenya at 2pm. The opening ceremony will run from 4pm to 4.30pm, and the anticipated full house of 12,000 will then be treated to an entertainment programme, including a performance of the official theme song with a laser light show, before Japan get down to business against Chinese Taipei at 6pm.
"The six teams from Pool A will be introduced to the spectators and will walk down a red carpet, through the orchestra and spectator seats, to the court," explains Mr. Yasue.
"There will also be a giant montage of all the flags representing the 48 teams in the women's and men's championships. The opening ceremony will involve around 500 people."
The ceremony is being organised and directed by host broadcaster TBS.
On July 25, TBS will reveal the "official supporter" -- usually a TV or music star/band -- and the official theme songs.
