Accent on youth for Cup opening

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 32

Accent on youth for Cup opening

PA ’ Wellington The accent will be on youth in the opening ceremony for the World Cup rugby tournament on May 22, said the Auckland Rugby Union’s executive director, Lew Pryme, yesterday. Having had the organisation of the ceremony thrust upon it at a late stage in the planning, Mr Pryme is limited in what can be produced. He stressed that Eden Park will not be the scene of a Los Angeles Olympic-style presentation. “We would be foolish to think in extravagant terms,” he said. "We’ve got something I know we can handle in the time frame available.” He said the theme running through the ceremony will be the future of the game, and what is produced must be memorable. “It has to be. That is the first part of the World Cup that people will be watching and experiencing. We can’t afford to think in negative terms. “The most satisfying thing is the enthusiasm and enterprise people in Auckland have been showing us. People are falling over themselves to help,” he said. The programme will last one hour, finishing 15 minutes before the cup opener between New Zealand and Italy kicks off at 3 p.m. A top choreographer, Lynette Perry —

whose recent credits include the Benson and Hedges fashion awards, the®Miss New Zealand and Miss Universe New Zealand shows — will be in charge of the event. It will feature dancers, 80 gymnasts, 16 skydivers — each wearing the colours of a participating nation — teenage players from every club in Auckland, and boy scouts and venturers who will carry the placards for the competing countries. There will be a heavy emphasis on music, Mr Pryme said, Including pipe and brass bands. Instead of the traditional torch bearer, a former All Black — identity kept a close secret until the day — will carry a ball into Eden Park and run a lap of honour. “It will be a professional promotion, packed and co-ordinated into 60 minutes,” Mr Pryme said. He is unsure if any of the ceremony will be screened live. What is confirmed is that approximately eight minutes leading up to the kickoff will be beamed around the world. Ticket sales for the AIL Blacks match against Italy have been "exceptional” in the last three days, Mr Pryme said. “It’s been pretty slow until this week. I’m quite confident we’ll get a good opening crowd. I had my reservations because it is on a Friday, but the interest has been enormous.”