Helsinki skies open as World Championships get under way
Good crowds in attendance on first two days
Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny. Those who turned up at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki to watch the qualifying heats for the first events of the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, back in town after an absence of 22 years, were able to enjoy the very best of the weather.
Not so the people who had chosen to attend the evening session: the sky was clouding over already at 5.30 pm as President Tarja Halonen declared the games officially open and opera bass Matti Salminen sang the Finnish national anthem.
The rain began to fall during the evening, although not in large enough quantities to affect the performances on the track or field, but by the time the opening show extravaganza got under way (somewhat late over problems with transporting the teams from the athletes' village in Espoo), it was coming down heavily.
Nevertheless, few in the packed house left their seats, despite the chilly damp conditions. Those in the covered stands fared better than the many in the open areas of the stadium, but at least they could huddle up under plastic raincoats, which is more than the performers were able to do.
The show consisted of a potpourri of previous World Championships dating back to the first holding of the event in Helsinki in 1983. Sporting stars from each of the World Championships were in attendance, and four-time Olympic gold medallist and long-distance legend Lasse Viren was given the honour of bringing in the Finnish flag.
Each of the previous venues and games were presented on the video screens and through the medium of Finnish or foreign guest artists, including the bands Nightwish, Apocalyptica, and Leningrad Cowboys, and Spanish flamenco guitarist Vicente Amigo. A number of sporting stars from yesteryear were also in attendance.
The ceremonies closed with a fine light show and fireworks display, by which time the clock had already ticked past midnight.
Finland's entries in the World Championships have thus far not produced any medals. The two Finnish shot-putters Ville Tiisanoja and Tepa Reinikainen made it into Saturday's final, but could do no better than 8th and 10th respectively. Hammer-thrower Olli-Pekka Karjalainen progressed into the final of his event and will be in action tonight.
Even if the Finns did not pick up any medals in the official competition, Leo-Pekka Tähti took bronze in a display event, the men's wheelchair 100 metres (T54). The double gold medallist at the Athens Paralympics started well, but faded to third behind David Weir of Great Britain and Holland's Kenny van Weeghel. Tähti will be back at the end of the week for the 200 metres.
Links:
IAAF World Championships
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 8.8.2005 - TODAY |
Helsinki skies open as World Championships get under way
|
|
