2010 FIBA World Championship starts

Monday, August 30, 2010

File:Sinan Erdem Dome.jpg

Sinan Erdem Dome
Image: Turkish Flame.
(Image missing from Commons: image; log)

The opening ceremony of basketball's 2010 FIBA World Championship took place in Sinan Erdem Dome, Istanbul on Friday.

The celebrations started with a special show by the world-renowned group Cirque du Soleil. It was followed by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, a Janissary band, and the singers Fatih Erkoç and Müslüm Gürses. Then Whirling Dervishes took to the stage. Turkish diva Sezen Aksu performed with the Italian tenor Alessandro Safina and Greek singer Haris Alexiou. To finish, Turkish dance group Fire of Anatolia performed the show "Troy".

Turkey is ready and Turkey will deliver.

—FIBA President Bob Elphinston

FIBA President Bob Elphinston gave a speech during the ceremony. "FIBA assigned the event to Turkey in 2004 and after six years of hard work, a dream comes true. Turkey is ready and Turkey will deliver. We thank the Turkish government for the great support."

The first round of the tournament, which is in Europe for the first time since 1998, will tip off in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Kayseri.


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