体坛英语新闻：Copa America's opening ceremony - what to expect

SANTIAGO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- With the promise of a first-rate show using the most advanced technology audiences will be in for a treat during Copa America's opening ceremony, said the shows' organizer on Tuesday.

"We have been giddy with excitement these last few days because time is hurrying along however we have a rather large team who are preparing a beautiful show. It will be magical and with lots of surprises," organizer of the artistic show, Esteban Icardi, said at a Copa America news conference.

"Our show has been planned so the cast will not stand on the National Stadium's pitch so as to take better care of the grass for the Copa America matches. Therefore, one of the surprises is that all participating countries will fly from the audience to the stage," revealed Icardi on Copa America's official website.

The shows choreography has been designed by Catalan Hansel Cereza who choreographed the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Barcelona 1992 and more recently the show Love in Las Vegas which consisted of Cirque du Soleil artists moving to Beatles music said Icardi.

The music to be used in the ceremony has been composed specially for the occasion by Barcelona artist Salvador Niebla who has put music to many of the great sporting ceremonies in recent years, continued Icardi.

In terms of technology, the technical team will be using the latest lighting system and magical elements. Most of the lighting and fire equipment comes directly from the Eurovision Song Contest that took place in Austria last week. The majority of the equipment belongs to Clay Paky, the team that has one of the most prizes in Europe for its modernity, said Icardi.

The whole lighting system will be connected through wi-fi for the first time in any Copa America opening ceremony. H The ceremony will last 20 minutes and Icardi promised that the event would be full of excitement and entertainment from start to finish.

The ceremony will take place at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT) prior to the tournament's opening match between hosts Chile and Ecuador in Santiago's National Stadium.