Opening ceremony

We would like to invite all guests, participants and visitors of ICF Canoe/Kayak Slalom Racing World Championships 2006 to attend the Opening ceremony holding on Tuesday August 1st 2006 at 20:30 at Krizik’s fountain being situated at Exhibition area Prague – Holesovice.
The entry to the ceremony is possible for holders of 4-day passes, accredited participants and invited partners and guests of World Championships.
However, in case that you are not a member of above mentioned groups and if you wish to attend the ceremony, print your own  Ticket for free.

 

Program
20:40 queuing all athletes and other members of the participating National Federations.
21:00 the march of all athletes
21:30 Formal part of Opening Ceremony
 Speech of Mayor of Prague - Pavel Bém, MD. 
 Speech of President of Czech Canoe Union – Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Pollert, DrSc.
 Speech of President of International Canoe Federation – Ulrich Feldhoff
 ICF anthem
 National Czech Republic anthem
 Short greetings of Czech Olympic medalist – Luká¹ Pollert, MD. 
22:00 Entertainment program
 Projection on the water column of the fountain – slalom history in Czech Republic
 Effects of the fountain accompanied by symphonic poem of Bedrich Smetana “Vltava” from the cycle “My country”
 Effects of the fountain accompanied by Vangelis: “Conquest of the Paradise 1452”
 Fireworks
22:30 End of the Opening Ceremony

Venue
The Krizik’s fountain is one of the most interesting sights at the Exhibition site Prague – Holesovice. Czech engineer, inventor and fancier of implementing and use of electricity, Frantisek Krizik, constructed and realized this light fountain at the end of 19th century, the time of big representative exhibitions. The fountain was constructed on the occasion of the Anniversary Provincial Exhibition in 1891. The fountain has become a jewel of the exhibition. The present form comes out of the reconstruction realized on the occasion of The General Czechoslovak Exhibition a hundred years later. The modern analogy of the Krizik’s fountain was designed by architect Z. Stasek in the nineties of 20. century.
Restrainedly the Krizik’s fountain is European unique. The effect of its production is supported by a number of water supply circuits, operated by 50 pump devices an ended by almost 3000 of nozzles. The color effects are generated by 1248 of underwater colorful lights, intensifying particularly the night production experience.
Krizik’s fountain, beautiful water monument, and all the persuaded performance are having many fans all over the world.

 

Symphonic poem Vltava
The symphonic poem Vltava is one part of the cycle of six symphonic poems My country. This opus composed by Bedrich Smetana, one of the famous Czech harmonist, is one of the top patriotic manifests built up on the idea of homeland, nation and glory. The theme composition grows out of Czech myths and glorifies the Czech history, landscape and folk – and it prophets a famous future to the Czech nation. Vltava (Moldau): two springlets unite into a river flowing through the Czech landscape; it is passing by the scenes of forest hunting, wedding festivities and the night whirl of Rusalkas’ dancing. Then, running past the Svatojanske Streams it passes solemnly below Vysehrad and disappears in the distance.

How to get there
Navigation from WCH venue Prague – Troja.
by car: drive upstream the river up to “Barikadniku” bridge. Take direction city centre, cross the river and take first street right direction “Hole¹ovice”. In front the Paegas Arena turn right and drive up to parking place

by tram: walk upstream to tram bridge, turn left and follow the track to station “Trojská”, take trams 14 or 17 direction city centre up to “Výstavi¹tì” tram stop.

on foot: walk downstream to pedestrian bridge, cross the river and entry the park “Stromovka”; go under the railway track; turn left and follow the fence of the Prague Exhibition Area to the main entrance.