By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Aigerim Sadykova
Photos = Aigerim Sadykova
The Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games was held on Feb. 9 and brought together Kazakhstan, Korea and countries all over the world in front of their TV screens. The organizers of the Opening Ceremony kept it a secret as to how exactly the event will would take place, arousing even more interest and curiosity.
The Korean Cultural Center in Kazakhstan (KCC) and a group of supporters arranged a special event for residents of Astana. They prepared a live broadcast of the Opening Ceremony, setting up a wide screen and hooking up a cable TV in the main KCC hall. Guests received souvenirs with an image of the Olympic and Paralympic mascots and took pictures with Soohorang the white tiger and Bandabi the Asiatic black bear, and enjoyed temporary tattoos with the PyeongChang logo and mascots, too.
Participants get a temporary tattoo of the PyeongChang mascot Bandabi and pose for a photo.
Before the broadcast started, Ambassador of Korea Kim Daesik gave a short speech. The ambassador said that the Olympic Games in Korea differ in scope because of the latest technologies that will be used during the broadcasting of the Olympiad. He said that the whole world would see robots with AI, some of the newest 5G networks and other examples of Korean high-tech.
The KKC was full of spectators for the Opening Ceremony. The most anticipated moment of the ceremony was the flag-bearers. The Kazakhstani short-track speed skater, who also took part in the Sochi 2014 Olympics, Abzal Azhgaliyev, was chosen as the standard-bearer for Kazakhstan. The athlete came out in a Golden Man suit, which is a symbol and part of the history of Kazakhstan.
People gather at the KCC in Astana to watch the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics.
Traditionally the first to march into the stadium was Greece, where the modern Olympic Games started, while the united team of Korea closed the show. Other countries went in alphabetical order according to the Korean alphabet Hangeul. Despite the fact that Kazakhstan was 68th in the order among 92 countries, the spectators didn’t leave their seats and remained until the end, witnessing a historical event. The entrance of the Kazakhstani and Korean teams was greeted with a standing ovation, especially when the teams of both South and North Korea marched under one flag. By the way, the audience was fascinated by the prepared show on the main stage, too.
Exchange students from Korea also came to watch the Opening Ceremony at the KCC, holding scarves with slogans of support for the Kazakhstani team.
Visitors to the Korean Cultural Center in Khazakhstan write wishes for the PyeongChang Olympics.
The event featuring Kazakhstani and Korean ahtletes will be broadcast at the KCC, too, throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Click here to see a video of the event.
wisdom117@korea.kr
