Opening Ceremony a Musical Extravaganza
Football, Fun and Friendship was the key message delivered by the tournament Chair, Rachel Harrigan at this afternoon’s McDonald’s Kanga Cup Opening Ceremony at the AIS Arena.
The venue was bursting at the seams with thousands of players and spectators enjoying the musical extravaganza which featured local rock group Hit Parade, members of the Ngunnawal tribe and the Korean Mothers choir.
The party started early when approximately 1400 football fans packed in the AIS Athletics Track to see the Capital Football’s President’s XI side secure a last minute draw with the Hyundai A-League’s Central Coast Mariner earlier in the afternoon.
The celebrations continued across the road when a sea of colour flooded the arena through the traditional team march.
It gave every-team a chance to be in the spotlight, but the biggest cheer reserved for international visiting sides, Chung-Hua Elementary School and Feng-Si Junior High School, of Chinese Taipei.
Everyone joined in the traditional welcome from the Ngunnawal tribe by clapping in unison as the didgeridoo echoed through the stadia.
Despite the swine flu epidemic seeing five international sides pulling out the tournament following government travel warnings to Australia, long time participants Korea was still represented with the Korean Mothers Choir singing the Australian national anthem and Waltzing Matilda.
From tomorrow 224 teams will start competing in the 2009 event, the largest youth football tournament in the southern hemisphere, but the McDonald’s Kanga Cup isn’t solely a results focused tournament with social and cultural activities organised for every night.
“I personally think that the McDonald’s Kanga Cup is about three things, obviously football, but just as important is friends, whether its meeting new friends or catching up with old friends,” Harrigan said during her speech.
“Finally, the Kanga Cup is all about fun. So heading into this week I wish every team a week of football, friendship and fun.”
The formalities were wrapped up when world famous icon Ronald McDonald declared the 19th McDonald’s Kanga Cup official open to a rapturous cheer.
The football gets underway first thing in the morning with the 4000 participants in action across the territory.