Daegu was proud to host the 9 day IAAF games last August where Usain Bolt triumphed and set a new world record. This week the city hosted a one day special track and field meet where many of the big names returned from last August for one more chance to compete. It seems as though the city forgot the games ended last August as the stadium was packed full of festivities for this three hour athletic event.

Last year I had taken the shuttle bus from Gosan subway both to the nine day IAAF and Asia Song Festival. This time for some reason the bus had moved to another station and there was no shuttle when I arrived. I tried taking two different regular buses but they both said they werent going to the stadium even though the bus map said they did.

It was about a 15 min walk in the heat and fortunately all the ticket booths were empty. The City of Daegu had arranged for foreign english teachers to have special tickets for pickup so we could avoid the regular lines.

I was the first one on the list to arrive. School was dead as grades 2 & 3 had gone on a two day camping trip, the grades 1 just left in buses to some event, and tomorrow was a school holiday. I excused myself at 3pm since nobody was pretty much in school and managed to get to the stadium by 4.30. 

Since I was first to arrive from the public school teachers list the guy was confused who I was and what to do. I told him we had reserved Premier Tickets for 10,000w ($9). I asked for one at the finish line and excitedly went in.

In the stadium I couldnt figure out how to get to the finish line seats and accidently went thru the glass doors to the reserved section for VIP officials. As it was still early they let me thru and pointed me in the right direction. 

While waiting a journalist noticed me a foreigner so sat with me to ask me some questions. Between her low level english and my low level korean I think I managed to converse well with her. I could only understand she was from 'Maeil' so not sure where?  




 

At 5.30pm an airshow was scheduled to begin. I expected this to be hard to see from inside the stadium and best viewed from a hill on a distance. I ended up watching it on the big screen as the planes flew by so quickly over the stadium and did long turns in the city you barely saw them for a second inside the stadium itself. 

I did manage to try to shoot some of it on video

youtube video : airshow
http://youtu.be/M3m0s2sijIo

Next began the opening show. I line of cheerleaders rushed out on each side of the stadium and formed a ring along the track. The began dancing to the music, waving their flags and pom poms.
 
youtube video : opening show
http://youtu.be/94du5tZsv_k

Then the host dressed in a pink suit came out followed by the IAAF mascot Sarbi. I had forgotten about Sarbi and thought he had died after the games last August but he seemed alive and healthy. Then the stadium filled with more Sarbi's so it appears he has spent his absence breeding like rabbits.
 
youtube video : Sarbi & Host
http://youtu.be/JncBjLibqJQ

They then played the theme from last August game 'Lets Go Together' but unfortunately it was in Korean so we had no idea other than the tune. After doing a mock sprint to the finish line cheered on by Sarbi and his many offspring the host left the stadium and the official opening ceremonies began.

An elementary student sang the national anthem. This was followed by The Mayor of Daegu who made an opening address in English and Korean followed by the head of the organizing committee. 

Next was the hoisting of the IAAF flag along the Korean Flag and that of the City of Daegu. The games had now officially begun.   

see also last years IAAF Opening Ceremonies
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/londone7/1/1315211175/tpod.html