2023 World Cup opening ceremony provides stunning start to tournament with a mix of Māori and Australian Indigenous cultures front and centre at Auckland’s Eden Park
World Cup 2023 Opening Ceremony sets off a stunning start to the tournament with a mix of Māori and Australian Indigenous cultures taking center stage at Auckland’s Eden Park
- An estimated 40,000 were in attendance when the tournament began
- The performance came after a morning of tragedy in Auckland
- Australian Indigenous and Maori performers in hongi salute
After a tragic morning, the Women’s World Cup continued with an opening ceremony on a theme of unity.
A shooting earlier on Thursday in central Auckland, which left three dead, prompted reflection on the appropriateness of festivities.
There was an unease in a city that shifted so quickly from horror to revelry, with FIFA and the New Zealand government choosing to continue.
Perhaps the alternative – to deny the artists and footballers their moment in the world’s gaze – was even less desirable than cancelling.
An estimated 40,000 fans were treated to an amazing performance featuring a native Australian rainbow snake (left) and Māori whai, or stingray (right)
Māori and Aussie First Nations dancers and singers combined in fine style, with a haka backed by music from a didgeridoo at one point
And so the show went on, a short but dazzling display rich in Maori and First Nations traditions and imagery, showcasing both New Zealand and Australian heritage and landscapes.
A giant whai, or stingray, and a rainbow snake blanketed the field, where a Maori call was followed by an Australian First Nations response.
A haka – how could it be otherwise, in the pain house of the All Blacks, a koha – or offering – and the hongi – the cherished Maori greeting – represented the unity of the two indigenous peoples.
Then came a ‘dance of unity’ with performers dressed in the colors of all 32 participating countries, which was more like an elementary school lunch break with children scattered around the oval.
The 10-minute show then concluded with Auckland pop stars Benee and Brisbane’s Mallrat singing the official song Do It Again.
The fans were thrilled, but not everyone was impressed.
“Well, that was okay… I mean, who needs an opening ceremony for a football tournament anyway? However, I’m not sure about Benee and friend’s bad lip-sync,” tweeted New Zealand sports journalist Ed Jackson.
The ceremony was followed by a minute of silence for the victims of the shooting that rocked Auckland early Thursday morning, local time.
The display that opened the tournament was built around the theme of unity
Performers dressed in the comics of all 32 countries taking part in the World Cup played a major role in the ceremony, which saw the pitch wrapped in a protective covering
Kiwi star Benee (center, in purple and black top) paired with Australian musician Mallrat to perform the cup’s official song, Do It Again
It was lavish but not overly extravagant, and appropriately followed by a minute’s silence, which will also be observed during Thursday night’s Australia-Ireland match in Sydney.
The Auckland Fan Festival venue, The Cloud, was near the shooting, and officials chose to postpone the opening until Friday.
Besides the trans-Tasman ceremony, the night had a distinct Kiwi flavour.
The estimated 40,000 in attendance were given a poi, a prop used in Maori performances, to be used en masse in the stands.
The poi featured a QR code that led to an explanation of Maori traditions and the Poi Tukua movement, which aims to “amplify poi as an international symbol of empowerment” for female athletes.