Rugby League World Cup opens at Millennium stadium

26 October 2013
Last updated at 01:54

The Millennium Stadium hosts the opening ceremony and two games in a day

Organisers of the Rugby League World Cup are hoping for record crowds as Cardiff hosts the opening ceremony.

Some 1,500 performers will take part in the spectacular, followed by the first two matches of the tournament – England v Australia and Wales v Italy.

Organisers say two of the stadium’s three tiers are virtually sold out with hopes the crowd will exceed 50,000.

But concern has been expressed that rail services to the Welsh capital will be disrupted by engineering works.

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The World Cup will not only provide an opportunity for us to involve our local communities, but will also hopefully encourage increased participation in the sport ”

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Carwyn Jones
First Minister

As part of the pre-tournament celebrations, 500 dancers drawn from communities in Wales and south west England will take to the pitch.

Strictly celebration

They will be joined by two World Cup ambassadors – rugby league legend Martin Offiah and former Welsh rugby union captain and rugby league convert Gareth Thomas.

Offiah – who finished fourth in the first ever series of Strictly Come Dancing – will also be linking up with another former Strictly competitor, Welsh television presenter Gethin Jones.

They will be pairing up with their original dance partners – Camilla Dallerup and Erin Boag – as part of the opening ceremony, which is part of a wider £1m arts dance project.

“I might take a little grief from the fans, but it should be good fun,” said the former Wigan, Widnes and England winger Offiah.

As well as dancers, there will be performances from Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and classical-pop quartet Escala.

It all takes place under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium.

“There’ll be dramatic lighting, special effects, and an aerial show celebrating the 14 nations taking part in what promises to be a great tournament – the first major sporting event taking place in the UK since London 2012,” said tournament general manager, Sally Bolton.

Fourteen nations are represented at this year’s Rugby League World Cup

“All in all, the atmosphere under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium is going to be electric.”

First Minister Carwyn Jones, who will be at the opening event, said it was a privilege to be there.

“I’m delighted to play a part in the opening ceremony which takes place at the Millennium Stadium – this is the only time all 14 participating nations will unite during the World Cup,” he said.

“The double header at the Millennium Stadium will be another landmark event for Wales during this tournament.

“The World Cup will not only provide an opportunity for us to involve our local communities, but will also hopefully encourage increased participation in the sport by people of all ages and abilities.”

The Rugby League World Cup – famously, once stolen in 1970

Wales will host two other games, with the national side taking on the USA at Wrexham’s Racecourse ground on 3 November, and the Cook Islands at the Gnoll, Neath, on 10 November.

The tournament’s opening ceremony on Saturday marks a massive weekend for the Welsh capital, which is also hosting the Womex world music trade fair and festival.

Some 2,500 delegates have been attending the event which opened with a special concert staged by singer Cerys Matthews on Wednesday and runs until Sunday.

One issue that has cast a shadow over the weekend’s events is a decision by Network Rail to close the Severn Tunnel for maintenance work.

It means trains between Bristol and Newport are being replaced by bus services. It also means that services from London will be diverted between Swindon and Newport, with an extra hour added to journey times.

Last week, the first minister criticised Network Rail for carrying out the works at such a busy time for the Welsh capital.

However, Network Rail said it had previously postponed the maintenance, which was vital to future services.

Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/10389669/Rangi-Chase-at-home-leading-Englands-Rugby-League-World-Cup-charge.html

Rugby League World Cup opens at Millennium stadium