On the 6th of October, at 8 PM of the local time, the 3rd Youth Olympic Games started. The opening ceremony happened under the Obelisco, one of the tourist sights in Buenos Aires, situated in the heart of Buenos Aires at Avenida 9 de Julio. The streets were set to burst into life in this street party. For the first time in the Olympic Games history, the opening ceremony would happen outside a stadium. The ceremony celebrated the culture, education and sports. The show involved 2,000 people, including 350 performers, technicians and musicians from Argentine theatre company Fuerza Bruta. There were more than half a million spectators at Avenida 9 de Julio and millions following on TV and online.
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international multi-sport event organized by the International Olympic Committee. The games are held every four years. The first summer version was held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010 while the first winter version was held in Innsbruck, Austria, from 13 to 22 January 2012. The age range of the athletes is between 14 and 18 years of age. This year was the first with an equal number of female and male participants.
There were around 4000 athletes from 206 countries that were competing in 32 different kinds of sports. Four new sports were introduced: breakdance, climbing, karate and speed roller skating.
It was a very beautiful ceremony designed to capture the audience's imagination with displays that awakened the senses. Everything was very colorful and organized. The delegations entered. Everyone was very happy and they were enjoying it. There were some presentations in the Obelisk.
by Nicole B. Domene
ARTICLE: The opening ceremony of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
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The giant structure served as a pictographic screen with all the 32 sporting disciplines at this year’s Game projected on it. Artists performed athletics, cycling, rowing, jumps, roller speed skating and BMX freestyle while they were suspended about 70m in the air in front of the projection on the Obelisc. Following the flag bearers of each delegation carried their national flags. After that, the rings from the Olympics Game flew in the air. The Olympic Committee President and the President of Argentina gave speeches. At the end, the Olympic torch was lit and there were fireworks all over Avenida 9 de Julio. This torch travelled more than 2.0000 km through Argentina.
The ceremony was spectacular and magnificent.
Artwork by: Nicole B. Domene