MINSK, 9 September (BelTA) - The opening ceremony of The Match Europe v USA is taking place at the Dinamo National Olympic Stadium in Minsk, BelTA has learned.
According to the show directors, the major theme of the ceremony is based on the continuity of times. The show starts with the history of Ancient Greece where the Olympic Games were born. Nike, the goddess of victory, emerged in a carriage. The storyline went on with the Soviet period when the first USSR-USA matches were held and great victories were won. Flags of the USA and the European Athletics Association were carried in the stadium.
The opening ceremony is attended by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of the International Association of Athletics Federations Sebastian Coe and President of the European Athletics Association Svein Arne Hansen.
The Match Europe v USA program features hammer throw, javelin throw, discus throw, 100 meters, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 200 meters, 400 meters, 400m hurdles, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 3,000 meters steeplechase, 4x100 meters relay, mixed relay (200-200-400-800 meters), shot put, triple jump, high jump, long jump, pole vault.
Each discipline features eight athletes (four from Europe and four from the United States). The winner of the competition in each discipline will get €7,000, the silver medalist - €5,000, the bronze medalist - €4,000.
The competition started at 19.00. The event will end on 10 September.
The rights to broadcast the event have already been acquired by Belarus 5, Czech TV (the Czech Republic), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), France TV (France), BBC (the UK), MTV (Hungary), LT (Lithuania), TVP (Poland), RTS (Serbia), SR (Sweden), NBC (the United States).
