ISSUE 4 - Chiangmai mail

Issue : 4AUG Sports Today Thursday 16 December 2010 5he opening of the Gamesorganizing them and wished everyoneluck in achieving the goals of the Games.He then struck the ceremonial gongthree times, symbolizing good luck,health and prosperity.The flags of each nation were honoredby the gathered crowd before the anthemfor the Games was sung, “We AreOne”. Then, representing the players, aMaejo University volleyball player, tookthe stand to encourage the players to dotheir best and reach their highest ability,followed by a referee representing all thereferees and encouraged the athletes toplay fairly and with good sportsmanship.Then four athletes carried in the torch inturns, with the first a Maejo footballer,who also plays for the Chiang Mai FC,followed by a second Maejo footballplayer, then a Rajaphat University memberof the taekwando team took the torchto pass it on finally to Chiang Mai Universitystudent Thanyaluck Chotipiboonwho carried the torch to light a giant YiPeng lantern to start the games.The next performance presented themeaning of the mascots and representingLanna culture, with the fantasticallydressed rahm nok yoong dancers, ordance of the peacock. And one look atthe beautiful fan shaped attachments ontheir outfits makes it clear why it is calledthe dance of the peacock. Additionallythere was an agile Foon Tou. Accordingto Shan hilltribe legend, the tou is a mythicalcreature living in the Himmapan forest.It is a hybrid of a yak, deer, mountaingoat, and lion. When Buddha went toheaven to preach for his mother and thenreturned to the earth, all the animals in theHimmapan forest went to greet him. Thetou was among the animals who gladlydanced to welcome the Buddha back. Twodancers, one controlling the head and theother the tail perform the agile movementsof this mythical creature.The event culminated in a graceful umbrelladance demonstrating the power ofharmony where the many colors becomeone. The colorful displays of the “bor sang”or saa paper parasols and the beautifullydressed dancers carried in standing onshoulder high palanquins scattered flowersin a blessing for the athletes and games.The spirit of harmony was evident as studentsholding small parasols performed a‘wave’ around the gymnasium to celebratethe opening of the Games.(Story by Shana Kongmun, ChiangMai Mail; Photos by AUG SportsToday Team)Myanmar athletes and coaches prepare for the OpeningCeremony parade at Maejo University on December 15, 2010.The Malaysian team marches into the gymnasium duringthe Opening Ceremony.Nong Hug and Nong Hoh join the Opening Ceremony.Flag carriers parade into the hall during the OpeningCeremony.Vietnam athletes cheer on the dancers during theperformance.Dancers honoring HM the King for his work helping thehilltribes people with crop replacement.Beautiful girls in traditionalhilltribes costumes are ready forthe show.One of the beautiful Umbrelladancers from the show.A dancer dressed intraditional hilltribes clothesduring the performance.A member of the Thaicheering squad dresses upto rouse the crowd.A Maejo University studentis dressed as the schoolemblem of a Cowboy cracksa whip before the start of theshow.