A rhapsodical opening of Kaunas Žalgiris Arena took place on Thursday evening.

The event began with a theatrical performance, permeated with mythology. The main character – a child, together with dancers and lighting effects, created spectacular visuals, depicting symbols related to our country: a serpent – representing unity, an oak – strength, an aurochs – force, falcon – representing dreams and enthusiasm.

During the colorful event Kaunas State Choir, Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, near 100 different hip-hop and modern dance artists and Arvydas Sabonis basketball school students held their performances.

The show was warmly welcomed and followed by generous applause from the large audience that gathered in the Žalgiris Arena.

During the second part of the opening ceremony an oratorio was convivially performed – That Cosmic Sense of Basketball – created by the National Award winning composer Vidmantas Bartulis and poet Gintaras Patackas.
The oratorio was performed by the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, the Kaunas State Choir and four soloists: soprano Asmik Grigorian, tenor Edgaras Montvidas, Kristina Jatautaitė alto, baritone Gabrielius Liaudanskas, under the baton of Kaunas State Choir artistic director and chief conductor Petras Bingelis.

Inspiring words were read by the legendary Lithuania and Kaunas Žalgiris basketball player Modestas Paulauskas before the oratorio.

Congratulatory speeches were said by distinguished guests.
“Our victory is that today we are gathered here. I am glad that it sprang up in Kaunas. And it could not be otherwise, because Kaunas is the capital of basketball,” – said the Mayor of Kaunas, Rimantas Mikaitis.

“Laba diena!” – said FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin in Lithuanian. “I hope this will be the best European basketball championship in the entire history, because the tournament will be held in the country of basketball”, – said N. Zanolin.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius’s speech was short, but fans that gathered in the arena met it with ear-splitting whistles.

BC Žalgiris owner Vladimir Romanov was met with completely the opposite reaction. After a symbolic key was passed by the Kaunas City Mayor Rimantas Mikaitis, the businessman said: "This key to the arena now belongs to Žalgiris. And, to all of us, Žalgiris means Lithuania. Today, the Spaniards will feel that they had come to the kingdom of Žalgiris, and how big of a force we are.” Thunderous acclamation accompanied these words.

The arena was consecrated by Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius.

The solemn opening of the arena was concluded with Lithuanian National Anthem, performed by Kaunas State Choir.

Kaunodiena.lt photostream.