Tonight we were surprized by the grandure of the Opening Ceremony. We witnessed something very special together. For many days now the athletes have been training on the track in L´Aquila but tonight the track that has taken it´s toll with skaters trying new wheels and techniques, came alive.

We were entertained with artistic skaters who whirled young girls above their heads, who jumped and did spins till we all felt giddy. We watched amazed as they one by one and in pairs danced to music that was both soothing and then fanciful. Finally the skaters, the people who these championship would be nothing without, marched proudly out, county-by-country, alphabetically except of course for the host country. The large and noisy crowd was apprecitive and cheered wildy, stamped their feet and cheered as each country´s flag paraded into the stadium, followed by the skaters themselves. The loudest applause came when each Italian skater was personally named as they entered last of all. The crowd went wild. Had there been a roof over the track, it would have certainly been lifted!

Speaches followed (can´t traslate, but they sounded exciting), and then the Grande Finale: fireworks, and fireworks and even more fireworks. there was no end to them, first bi, round explosions over our heads, then noisy smaller ones, and finaly colourful ones, but they just kept in coming. We all stodd, our necks stretched up to the now well lit up sky, watching in wonder. someone in the crowed asked if they woulkd be able to give medals this year, as it appeared al the budegt was going up in smoke? we all marvelled at the spectctular that was The Opening Cermeony of the 2004 World Championships.