GUIMARAES – Largo da Oliveira in Guimarães hosted the opening ceremony of the 12th World University Chess Championship. As a protocol procedure, the Portuguese national flag came up on stage accompanied with the national anthem.
After this official action, all the teams of the eighteen different countries paraded with a musical group of Minho’s University called Bomboémia. Each team took to the stage showing the respective flag of their country.
Luís Rodrigues, president of the organizing committee, started his speech saying how important the relation is between Minho’s University and The Student Union to organize these type of major sport events, such as World University Futsal Championship (1998) and the European University Championship of Tawkwondo (2011). Luís Rodrigues added that “Guimarães should be proud for receiving such important competitions”.
Then João Chaves, host of the ceremony, gave the floor to Luciano Cabral, vice-president of FISU, to say a few words and he showed special admiration for the city of Guimarães. Luciano Cabral has high expectations about this tournament, “I hope that the athletes have an amazing competition such as this amazing city”.
The rector of Minho’s University António Cunha mounted the stage to close the ceremony, expressing his gratitude to “all the people who made this event possible”. António Cunha also referred that Guimarães is a beautiful city “full of Portuguese history and culture”.
After all the speeches the FISU’s flag came up on stage also accompanied with the respective anthem, starting the championship that will end on August 25th.
The cultural programme of the open ceremony was performed by student folkloric group ‘Gatuna’.
(Source: Rita Magalhães, OC – Photos: Joana Meira)
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