Sports writing (EFE)
With a capacity of close to fifty thousand spectators, the Eden Park stadium in Auckland, the most populous city in New Zealand, was decked out to host a fast-paced, ten-minute opening ceremony and the first match of the World Cup between New Zealand and Norway.
The festive atmosphere and the desire for soccer took over the city, which a few hours ago was the scene of a shooting with three dead and six wounded.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins, reaffirmed on Thursday the “safety” of those attending the opening ceremony and subsequent match of the Women’s World Cup after the shooting.
“This has been an isolated incident. People should feel safe in Auckland and when attending the event,” Hipkins said at a press conference.
32 teams like in the men’s World Cup
The best natural landscapes of both organizing countries were projected accompanied by colorful drawings to give way to a performance that showed the world the roots of the two organizing countries Australia and New Zealand with indigenous songs and dances.
The icons of the rainbow serpent from Australia and the manta ray from the North Island of New Zealand took to the lawns of Eden Park to commemorate the legend of the creation of the two islands according to Aboriginal mythology.
The 32 participating teams, equaling for the first time in the men’s tournament, were represented by groups dressed in the colors of the country’s kits while performing a unity dance.
In addition, the official ball of the competition was received as a gift from a representation of the participants to the current champions, the United States.
Finally, the World Cup logo was displayed on the central circle of the pitch and the New Zealand artist BENEE and the Australian singer and producer Mallrat performed ‘Do It Again’, the official World Cup song, which reflects the empowerment and unity they seek to characterize the World Cup event.