Fireworks light up Taipei Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics in Taiwan on Sept. 5, 2009. (Photo by )
Opening Ceremonies took time, moneyby U.S. Media Team reports on September 5, 2009 Amidst the highly anticipated Deaflympics, Taipei capitalized on its opportunity to amaze an international audience and show what the city has to offer. Officials opened the 2009 Games with a spectacularly successful ceremony that entertained at least 16,000 spectators. The sold-out ceremony opened with a bang Saturday night as, after a short clip showed a young Taiwanese girl fulfilling a quest, fireworks exploded over Taipei Stadium. Performers wound their way through a 12-act production that incorporated deaf drummers, orchestra music, dancers, a famous Chinese singer, a speech by Jet-Li and the traditional athletes’ march around the stadium floor as well as the torch-lighting ceremony. Putting on such a sizeable show wasn’t an easy task, and required a considerable amount of time, money and manpower, as well as excellent organizing skills. The Taipei City Council approved a budget plan of NT$7 billion, the equivalent of approximately US$210 million, the Taipei Times reported in May. Of that amount, NT$4.6 billion went towards required infrastructure. One of the most noticeable venues constructed since is Taipei Municipal Stadium, which was demolished then reconstructed specifically for the Deaflympics. The city poured money into advertising and marketing — NT$1.1 billion, according to the Taipei Times — and invited celebrities such as actor Jackie Chan and basketball star Scottie Pippen to endorse the Games. The Council also set aside about NT$600 million, or about US$18 million, for the opening and closing ceremonies, city councilor Huang Hsiang-chun told the Taipei Times last week. To prepare for the Games, the Organizing Committee recruited a volunteer force of nearly 3,000 people, a 2 to 1 ratio of participants to volunteers, including foreign language and sign language interpreters. The committee also hired Taiwanese playwright and theatre director Dr. Stan Lai to choreograph the Opening Ceremony.Opening Ceremony - Images by Deaflympics |
 Fireworks light up Taipei Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 2009 Taipei Deaflympics in Taiwan on Sept. 5, 2009. (Photo by )
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