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Adventures of a Global Wanderer
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Location Date South America 1487289600 Asia 1475362800 North America 1466636400 Europe 1443826800 Africa 1253833200 Asia -
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Location Date Incheon 1376521200 Danyang-Gun 1374879600 Habuk-Myeon 1372460400 Songnisan 1370041200 Kuryongpo 1369436400 Songgwangsa 1368831600 Namhae 1368831600 Unjusa 1368745200 Unmunsa 1368226800 Tongyeong 1367017200 Seoul 1358553600 Seonyudo-Ri 1348354800 Gunsan 1348268400 Yeosu 1339714800 Daegu 1339628400 Impo 1338937200 Suncheon 1338073200 Boseong-Gun 1337986800 Gwangju 1337900400 Pohang 1337382000 Ganghwado 1336777200 Gimhae 1333753200 Busan 1324944000 Chilgok 1317682800 Gongju 1317423600 Gohyeon 1307228400 Ulsan 1306537200 Seongsan Ichulbong 1304895600 Jungmun 1304809200 Seogwipo 1304722800 Jeju City 1304636400 Cheongdo 1302908400 Koryong 1302303600 Geojedo 1298073600 Buyeo 1287183600 Gyeongju 1286578800 Andong 1285974000 Panmunjom 1285455600 Suwon 1285282800 Jeonju 1282086000 Daegu -
16 May 2012
Colourful Daegu IAAF - Opening Ceremony & Air Show
Daegu, South Korea
Daegu was proud to host the 9 day IAAF games last August where Usain Bolt triumphed and set a new world record. This week the city hosted a one day special track and field meet where many of the big names returned from last August for one more chance to compete. It seems as though the city forgot the games ended last August as the stadium was packed full of festivities for this three hour athletic event. Last year I had taken the shuttle bus from Gosan subway both to the nine day IAAF and Asia Song Festival. This time for some reason the bus had moved to another station and there was no shuttle when I arrived. I tried taking two different regular buses but they both said they werent going to the stadium even though the bus map said they did. It was about a 15 min walk in the heat and fortunately all the ticket booths were empty. The City of Daegu had arranged for foreign english teachers to have special tickets for pickup so we could avoid the regular lines. I was the first one on the list to arrive. School was dead as grades 2 & 3 had gone on a two day camping trip, the grades 1 just left in buses to some event, and tomorrow was a school holiday. I excused myself at 3pm since nobody was pretty much in school and managed to get to the stadium by 4.30. Since I was first to arrive from the public school teachers list the guy was confused who I was and what to do. I told him we had reserved Premier Tickets for 10,000w ($9). I asked for one at the finish line and excitedly went in. In the stadium I couldnt figure out how to get to the finish line seats and accidently went thru the glass doors to the reserved section for VIP officials. As it was still early they let me thru and pointed me in the right direction. While waiting a journalist noticed me a foreigner so sat with me to ask me some questions. Between her low level english and my low level korean I think I managed to converse well with her. I could only understand she was from 'Maeil' so not sure where? At 5.30pm an airshow was scheduled to begin. I expected this to be hard to see from inside the stadium and best viewed from a hill on a distance. I ended up watching it on the big screen as the planes flew by so quickly over the stadium and did long turns in the city you barely saw them for a second inside the stadium itself. I did manage to try to shoot some of it on video youtube video : airshow http://youtu.be/M3m0s2sijIo Next began the opening show. I line of cheerleaders rushed out on each side of the stadium and formed a ring along the track. The began dancing to the music, waving their flags and pom poms. youtube video : opening show http://youtu.be/94du5tZsv_k Then the host dressed in a pink suit came out followed by the IAAF mascot Sarbi. I had forgotten about Sarbi and thought he had died after the games last August but he seemed alive and healthy. Then the stadium filled with more Sarbi's so it appears he has spent his absence breeding like rabbits. youtube video : Sarbi & Host http://youtu.be/JncBjLibqJQ They then played the theme from last August game 'Lets Go Together' but unfortunately it was in Korean so we had no idea other than the tune. After doing a mock sprint to the finish line cheered on by Sarbi and his many offspring the host left the stadium and the official opening ceremonies began. An elementary student sang the national anthem. This was followed by The Mayor of Daegu who made an opening address in English and Korean followed by the head of the organizing committee. Next was the hoisting of the IAAF flag along the Korean Flag and that of the City of Daegu. The games had now officially begun. see also last years IAAF Opening Ceremonies http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/1/1315211175/tpod.html
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