German TV-Star at the Opening Ceremony of the World Games

Ulla Kock am Brink will be the presenter of the World Games 2005 opening ceremony. José Cura, Benny Martell and Jay-Ann are to sing the World Games 2005-song.

DUISBURG. Jörg Krauthäuser, acting partner of the Cologne agency facts+fiction, describes the opening ceremony of the World Games 2005, which will take place on Thursday, 14 July, in the MSV-Arena as a great show full of emotion and moving moments. The programme was introduced to the media today. The main ceremony will be presented by German TV-star Ulla Kock am Brink.

Among the special moments of the celebration will be the athletes marching in and the first live interpretation of the World Games 2005-song "Once in Lifetime". The Argentine star tenor José Cura will sing the hymn of the Games together with the Duisburg singer Benny Martell and Jay Ann from Moenchengladbach who is only 14 years old.

Ulla Kock am Brink, who recently presented the award of the German television price and the UNICEF Gala for the Second Channel of German Television (ZDF), said that she looked forward to the task of leading through the programme of the opening ceremony of this year’s biggest multi-sport event.

Dr. Peter Langner, Managing Director of World Games 2005, referred to the special connection between the TV-presenter and the World Games 2005. "Ms. Kock am Brink is from Bottrop. Thus, she comes from one of the three World Games 2005 partner cities", Dr. Langner said on Monday. Besides Duisburg and Bottrop, Oberhausen and Mülheim an der Ruhr are the hosts of the World Games of the 40 (still) non-Olympic disciplines - with 3500 athletes taking part.

Benny Martell from Duisburg said about his performance at the opening ceremony: "For me it is an honour to be allowed to sing the official song of the World Games 2005. It will certainly give people the creeps!" The master volume of the song is to appear on 14 June 2005, the CD will presumably be available from July 1. The song, which bridges Pop and classical music, was composed by Lars Reinartz and Christian Behrens from Moenchengladbach. TRC - The record company from Cologne will produce the CD.

Moreover, the programme of the opening ceremony permits an exciting bridging between the varieties of nations. The Argentine star tenor José Cura will perform alongside the New Zealand Newcomer Hayley Westenra. The German Top star Nena will be another highlight, giving a short performance in the MSV-Arena. Likewise, the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra will have a “home match”, conducted by Jonathan Darlington, an Englishman who lives in Paris.

[Ed: "Newcomer" ???]

Jörg Krauthäuser did not want to describe the show in detail yet during the press conference; however, he aroused a lot of curiosity. "Duisburg and the region will present themselves in a multicoloured and joyous way. Solemn moments are to be expected as the flags will be hoisted or the official speeches by the representatives will be given." Dr. Peter Langner said: "We expect a large summer celebration of world sports with athletes who belong to the best in their disciplines of sport." The opening ceremony is planned in this sense as a happy high level-ceremony. Dr. Klaus Steinbach, President of the National Olympic Committee, had already said several weeks ago: "The innovative opening ceremony will inspire the spectators."

Photo: German TV-moderator Ulla Kock am Brink with mascot Allwin

Source: World Games 2005 press release.

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VIDEO COVERAGE WILL FOLLOW AS SOON AS TIME (AND HEALTH) PERMIT
~Simon ~

2005 World Games Opening Ceremony live on WDR
Thursday, 14 July 2005

German public TV channel Westdeutscher Rundfunk, WDR, will broadcast the opening ceremony of the 2005 World Games live on Thursday.

German public TV channel Westdeutscher Rundfunk, WDR, will broadcast the opening ceremony of the 2005 World Games at MSV Arena in Duisburg live on Thursday (July 14) from 20:15 hrs. WDR sports director Heribert Fassbender announced the live transmission at the World Games Plaza on Tuesday. The live show will be anchored by Jochen Huette and Okka Gundel.

Source: World Games 2005 GmbH

WDR is available virtually anywhere in Europe from ASTRA 1H:

The 2-hour programme will be worth watching. Argentinian star tenor José Cura, New Zealand's Hayley Westenra, the German 'rocking lady' Nena, and Duisburg's very own Benny Martell plus the Philharmonic Orchestra make the programme very attractive.