| The opening ceremony of the summer Olympics | | | | called Catalonia. The Barcelona inaugural ceremony |
| is in my opinion if not that of any other person; | | | | however I must confess was special to me not |
| one of the greatest spectacles on earth as it is | | | | only for the above given reason but simply |
| one nation demonstrating through a city all that its | | | | because my idol "Placido Domingo" performed |
| culture has to offer that distinguishes it from any | | | | along with the voice of Catalonia Jose Carreras in |
| other. Dances, music, customs delight spectators | | | | a soiree that included Zarzuela and some opera |
| both present at the place of the events and | | | | arias that to my mind set the night a blaze with |
| those who are receiving the image on their TV | | | | passions of highest nature. Unfortunately or |
| sets or perhaps computer screens. | | | | perhaps not the Spanish apparently wanted to |
| The World Cup also has an opening ceremony and | | | | keep this night foreigner free with regards to |
| though football perhaps is the greatest sport on | | | | those who performed which might have been the |
| earth the ceremony of the World Cup does not | | | | reason why Pavarotti was left out of what would |
| even begin to match that of the Olympic Games. | | | | have been a reunion of the "3 Tenors". |
| It was during my stay in Argentina in 1992 that I | | | | The concert was truly dazzling as how else would |
| really noticed for the first time why so many | | | | it be when you get Domingo and Carreras singing |
| individuals from all over the world; from all walks | | | | together; not wanting to leave out Monserrat |
| of life from the very affluent to world leader to | | | | Caballe performing the Olympic song. This being a |
| the average man (or woman) make it such a | | | | number she most likely would have performed |
| priority to be present at this ceremony which if | | | | with Farrokh Bulsara (AKA Freddy Mercury) had it |
| one really gives thought to the matter does | | | | not been for his death which took place the year |
| nothing but give start to a sporting event. Yet, it | | | | before the Olympics. The concert put on by |
| does so in a way that is breath taking as it | | | | those amazing singers was one of the most |
| combines the best of what every country has to | | | | memorable moments of my life but the day or |
| offer in to one arena; leaving no room for what is | | | | evening in this case was not theirs but of those |
| not harmony of nations. | | | | athletes who marched in that stadium. All of which |
| Barcelona; for my part was the first time I ever | | | | representing their countries by carrying its flag |
| witnessed this ceremony which has so much to | | | | along with the garments they wore; some of |
| offer in the way of passion of mostly though not | | | | which were typical of their country and culture; |
| exclusively the hosting nation as to make one see | | | | while some were simply nicely designed. It was as |
| with one's own eyes that it is really one big world | | | | if every country had something in its presentation |
| after all. Full of people, traditions, cultures and | | | | that was unique while at the same time sharing |
| customs which are different while at the same | | | | something that made one see that they also had |
| time sharing as many similarities as they do | | | | many of the same ideas which on that day came |
| diversities. It was the Barcelona opening | | | | to together to show that in spite of ours being a |
| ceremony which in many ways reminded me of | | | | world divided by many countries, it is still just one |
| the opening ceremony which inaugurated the 1982 | | | | world. |
| World Cup in Spain which was also held in | | | | I recall seeing the nations of Africa with their |
| Barcelona and in the same stadium. It being that | | | | traditional decorative costumes, while most of the |
| ceremony which back then though in a mini | | | | European nations wore suits as did those of the |
| version also concentrated on the culture from the | | | | Americas though with regards to the Asians they |
| region of Spain known as Catalonia of which | | | | well at least some of them put on the wears of |
| Barcelona happens to serve as capitol. | | | | their ancestors. This parade of nations to me was |
| While writing this article I am reminded of a | | | | one of the finest moments of the opening |
| conversation I had with a man from Barcelona | | | | ceremony as it is in every Olympic games and |
| whom I asked in my thirst to learn more of the | | | | though there are some who wish to cut it out of |
| world if he considered himself to be from Spain or | | | | the program as it is time consuming; I would urge |
| Catalonia; this being a question which at first | | | | them not to do so because it is then that we |
| surprised him, made him say that my question | | | | observe that the Olympic games is really about |
| was not such an easy one to reply to. He even | | | | bringing nations and their peoples together more |
| asking me what I felt about the issue which I | | | | then it is about winning medals of one kind or |
| replied that I did not know enough facts regarding | | | | another. |
| the matter to form any kind of what I would call | | | | In all this however there was another moment I |
| "educated opinion" but I was willing to listen to the | | | | will never forget which though short in its time |
| issue as I had heard many people from his region | | | | span will probably last a lifetime in most of those |
| claiming to not be Spaniards but Catalonians. I | | | | who bore witnessed to it. What I have in mind |
| even remarking that it seemed different to me | | | | can be no other then when the Olympic flame |
| then what I was used as I did not know of | | | | was about to be ignited. Usually this moment I |
| anybody from New York who when asked if he | | | | must say had always been slightly anticlimactic as |
| was American would respond in the negative that | | | | it basically involved one person (a man or a |
| he was a New Yorker instead. | | | | woman) placing a torch on top of a round plate |
| Perhaps it was my answer that made him feel | | | | which would turn on the Olympic flame. This was |
| my question to be one of curiosity rather then | | | | the tradition which I had become quit familiar with |
| judgment that made him reply that his nationality | | | | but on that occasion the Catalonians went outside |
| was the Spanish one though he did feel that his | | | | the norm when rather then do the conventional |
| culture was different. Him giving the example of | | | | thing they put the flame on an arrow which was |
| how bullfighting was not a sport which was | | | | shot from the bow of a Spanish archer; who fired |
| practiced in his region of Spain with him claiming | | | | this arrow set aflame through the night's air on to |
| that to its credit did not even have a ring for | | | | the target which was where the Olympic flame |
| such a purpose. I naturally had to confess to my | | | | would burn through out the time that would be |
| ignorance with regards to this fact though not to | | | | the games. The sight was spectacular in its |
| the one that the language of Catalonia was just | | | | simplicity and even romance as all one could see |
| that and not a dialect of Spanish as some might | | | | was fire gliding through the air as if carrying the |
| mistakenly think. | | | | hopes of not only a nation but that of the world |
| Like all other Olympic ceremonies the one in | | | | that the aim of he who had shot be true. |
| Barcelona also displayed folk dances of the region | | | | Speechless was my reaction at first as it had |
| performed by equally colorfully attired dancers | | | | really caught me of my guard to see something |
| who in a tour de force made those present | | | | of the sort; specially since I was expecting |
| weather it be via their attendance at the "Neu | | | | something completely different however as is the |
| Camp" or television as was the case with myself | | | | case with ideas that are simply brilliant; it would be |
| who was watching it from Buenos Aires, feel | | | | followed by other nations who also strived to be |
| what it was like to be from that area of Spain | | | | original as were the Catalonians on that day. |