The opening ceremony of the 17th Games of the Small States of Europe, directed by Vittorio Picconi, was remarkable for its emotional impact and spectacularity. The water, light, fire, and color games, along with the projections of flags on the water screen, left the over six thousand spectators at the Stadium in awe. In the stands were the highest officials of the Republic, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Crown Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, and IOC President Thomas Bach.
The scenario is magical indeed! The parade of the nine delegations begins: first Andorra, then Cyprus, followed by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro for the first time, and finally San Marino, with Letizia Giardi as the flag bearer, cheered on by the home crowd. The singer Monica Hill, the tenor Luca Grassi, and the San Marino Choir sing the anthem Olympian Dream. It is then the Regency that officially declares the Games open. The Olympic torch is once again lit, and finally, with the last, awaited act of the celebration, a mix of aerial acrobatics, water games, and the pyro-musical show, it remains a snapshot of a ceremony to remember. The magic continued on the playing fields.
