The Opening Ceremony for the European Championships Munich 2022 came spectacularly to life inside the iconic Olympic Park, setting the stage for 11 days of world class multi-sport action.
The event ebbed and flowed throughout the entire park, allowing performers to interact with spectators and get them involved in the action as much as possible. Live DJ sets, graffiti walls, mirror installations, performance artists, jugglers, marching bands, acrobats and laser light shows met the crowds at every turn.
The 55,000-strong turnout inside the Olympic Park was so great that the local organisers at one point advised people on social media to avoid travelling to the site and to watch the show live on television instead.
The Central Roof area acted as the fulcrum for the festivities, which featured a blend of music, dance, and artistic activities. Rock band Sportfreunde Stiller kicked off the evening, bringing the sizeable crowd to its feet in celebration.
This was followed by a Flag Ceremony, highlighting the nine sports whose athletes will compete to be crowned European Champions: Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Rowing, Sport Climbing, Table Tennis and Triathlon.
Athletes such as gymnast Felix Remuta, German 800m prospect Christina Hering and 1972 Olympic rowing champion Hans-Johann Färber took to the stage with flags to the sound of the 10-strong Munich brass band Moop Mama.
Titled ‘Back to the Roofs’, the night celebrated the 50 years since Munich hosted the Olympic Games in 1972, with a fitting audio-visual tribute that took the audience on a journey from the events of a half-century ago to today and beyond.
The show closed out with a thumping set from Rostock rapper Marteria, who earlier had performed a song from the top of the Olympic Stadium – perfectly in tune with the Back To The Roofs theme.
The Olympic Stadium will be the venue for the European Athletics Championships which begins in four days' time on 15 August.