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> Mundial 2014

World Cup: Today is the opening ceremony and the first match

The host country Brazil will face Croatia in the “Arena de Sao Paulo" – Audience will enjoy first an amazing show

Newsroom June 12 08:25

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Only a few hours left before the beginning of the World Cup 2014 … and the party for millions of fans who will live in their own world for the next month until the grand final on July 13.

Tonight at 23:00 (GMT+2) Brazil will face Croatia on the first match of the World Cup at “Arena de Sao Paulo.” The time might seem quite weird for the Greek and European audience in general, but it is something that we have to use to it, since most of the football matches will take place at similar time, while some matches will even begin at 03:00 (GMT+2).

An amazing opening ceremony of the World Cup will precedence the first match, where more than 600 people will participate, most of them will be dancers and acrobats. The show director will be Franco Dragone Entertainment Group and 90% of the participants are Brazilians. The show will include three thematic sections that characterize the country of samba dance: Football, nature and people.

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The opening ceremony will be attended by 62,000 spectators at the stadium, while the show will be broadcast in more than 200 countries around the world.

As FIFA announced, the official song of the tournament “We are One” will be performed by Pitbull , Claudia Leitte and Jennifer Lopez, despite her initial decision not to participate.

 


Moreover, the organizers of the World Cup have organized the most impressive kick since a paralysed teenager will perform the symbolic opening gesture using a mind-controlled exoskeleton. This is designed by the Greek-origin Miguel Nikolelis, who is neurologist, under the project “Walk Again”. The teenager will get out of his wheelchair and kick the ball.

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The aim of the neuroscientist of the University of Duke is to “abolish wheelchairs” and give the chance to people with disabilities to have a new normal daily life.

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