Beyoncé Opens Five Star Donbass Arena in Donetsk

September 3, 2009

- Stadium will be the new Home for UEFA Cup Champions, FC Shakhtar

DONETSK, Ukraine, September 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Grand Opening of Donbass Arena, which is the first football stadium in Eastern Europe to be designed and built to UEFA five star standards, took place in Donetsk on August 29. The US singer Beyoncé Knowles was the star of the Grand Opening Ceremony which was attended by over 45,000 people. The stadium will now become home to UEFA Cup Champions, FC Shakhtar.

The stunning Grand Opening Ceremony was produced by the Italian agency K-Events. The goal set by the organisers was to present to the world the Donbass region which is famous for its miners and coalfields. The show opened with a dramatic mining-themed mass choreographic performance and music as hundreds of young volunteers from the region performed a dance tribute to the miners while three of Ukraine's most famous singers, Natal'ya Mogilevskaya, Svetlana Loboda (who represented Ukraine at the Eurovision 2009 song contest) and Aliona Vinnitskaya, performed rock band Queen's famous anthem - "We will rock you."

The President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko was present and addressed the audience saying : "Victories be Yours, Donetsk and Donbass! Victories be Yours, Ukraine, here in Donbass Arena! I wish you all, the people of Donetsk, glory, happiness and joy! Glory to Ukraine!"

Legendary past players and coaches of FC Shakhtar also paraded while historic archive film was played on the Arena's two giant screens. The UEFA Cup itself, which FC Shakhtar won in May 2009, was brought from high above the stadium by a giant football-shaped balloon down to the pitch level and presented to the club's President, Rinat Akhmetov. Mr Akhmetov in his speech to officially open the Arena said: "We open Donbass Arena to the entire world on the City Day and the Miners' Day. Donbass is renowned for its labour and for the strong, hard-working and dignified people who live here. Dear friends, Donbass Arena has been built thanks to you, Donbass Arena has been built for you. My compliments! Thank You!"

The show ended with a gala concert by Beyoncé who captivated the audience with her high energy performance. The finale of the Grand Show was an incredible firework display which illuminated the night sky of Donetsk above the Donbass Arena to the accompaniment of a musical symphony.

All Grand Show news from Donetsk: http://www.donbass-arena.com/en