Friday, September 9, 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011: Opening ceremony | Mail Online

It's all kicked off Down Under! Kiwis host dazzling fireworks display to open World Cup - now can England's rugby match it?

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 8:51 PM on 9th September 2011


A dazzling array of colours from a spectacular fireworks displays lit up the waterfront in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday as the country's largest city launched the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

A joyous opening ceremony featuring hundreds of dancers and singers as well as a reported three tonnes of pyrotechnics helped mark the start of the country's biggest ever sporting event.

Around 60,000 rugby fans had packed into Auckland's Eden Park to witness the official start of the tournament.

Explosive: Fireworks explode across the Auckland night sky to herald the launch of the World Cup

Explosive: Fireworks explode across the Auckland night sky to herald the launch of the World Cup

Spectacular: Boats in Auckland harbour are lit up by flood of fireworks

Spectacular: Boats in Auckland harbour are lit up by flood of fireworks

Kia ora! The Kiwi's put on a dramatic show as they prepared to host the tournament for the second time

Kia ora! The Kiwi's put on a dramatic show as they prepared to host the tournament for the second time

Lighting up the sky: More of the reported three tonnes of spectacular fireworks help get the tournament off to an explosive start

Lighting up the sky: More of the reported three tonnes of spectacular fireworks help get the tournament off to an explosive start

The showpiece event featured a stylized sequence in which a young boy in a rugby jersey smashed through crowds of would-be tacklers who fell at his feet like skittles.

Meanwhile dancers and singers, some dressed in traditional Maori attire, helped kick off the tournament.

Other stylish celebrations during the flamboyant ceremony aimed to celebrate the game, as well as the Maori landscape and cultures of the Pacific.

First Kiwi Prime Minister John Key and chairman of the IRB Bernard Lapasset addressed the crowd ahead of the opening match between hosts New Zealand and Tonga.

New Zealand also hosted the first ever Rigby World Cup in 1987, and the lavish ceremony today was a far cry from the low-budget affair 24 years ago.

The stage is set: Hundreds of dancers were involved in the ceremony, watched by 60,000 fans at Eden Park

The stage is set: Hundreds of dancers were involved in the ceremony, watched by 60,000 fans at Eden Park

The stage is set: Hundreds of dancers were involved in the ceremony, watched by 60,000 fans at Eden Park

Dazzling show: A colourful lights show featuring more dancers helped establish a party atmosphere in Auckland

Cultural: the dazzling opening ceremony aimed to show the world about traditions in the Pacific and New Zealand

Cultural: the dazzling opening ceremony aimed to show the world about traditions in the Pacific and New Zealand

Ethan Bai performs during the part of the ceremony which saw a youngster sprint down a rugby field through tackles

Ethan Bai performs during the part of the ceremony which saw a youngster sprint down a rugby field through tackles

These stylish dancers added a classy touch to the opening ceremony proceedings in Auckland

These stylish dancers added a classy touch to the opening ceremony proceedings in Auckland

Maori welcome: The ceremony was colourful and energetic

Maori welcome: The ceremony was colourful and energetic

In the center of Auckland, thousands of New Zealanders showed their national pride by waving flags draped in Kiwi colours in a display which brought traffic to a standstill in the afternoon.

Cars came to a halt and blared their horns in Queen Street, Auckland's main thoroughfare, as fans hung out the windows screaming support for their national teams.

Flags hung from office and apartment windows as their occupants poured into the streets.

By far the noisiest crowds after New Zealand's were the Tongans, whose team faced off against the All Blacks at Eden Park, home of New Zealand rugby, after the official opening ceremony.

Schools and businesses closed early so Auckland residents could beat the traffic home or join the mobs in the city center.

Maori welcome: The ceremony was colourful and energetic

Traditional opening: More Maori dancers give a demonstration of Pacific culture as part of the opening ceremony

The thousands of home fans inside Eden Park were certainly not disappointed with the opening match, as the All Blacks beat their Polynesian neighbours Tonga 41-10.

The celebrations came at the end of a perfect spring day in Auckland, when leaders from around the Pacific wrapped up four days of talks as part of the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

At a closing press conference, Prime Minister Key said preparations couldn't have gone better.

'We're really pleased with the weather - it's been a magnificent day in Auckland,' said Key.

Challenge: All Blacks perform the Haka after Tonga had laid down the gauntlet

Challenge: All Blacks perform the Haka after Tonga had laid down the gauntlet

Fans-tastic: All Black supporters enjoyed the action as their side ran out comfortable victors in the tournament opener with Tonga

Fans-tastic: All Black supporters enjoyed the action as their side ran out comfortable victors in the tournament opener with Tonga

Party atmosphere: Thousands crammed into Auckland's city centre for the opening ceremony in a mass showing of New Zealand national pride

Party atmosphere: Thousands crammed into Auckland's city centre for the opening ceremony in a mass showing of New Zealand national pride

'New Zealand's done everything it can to be prepared - you can feel the atmosphere out there.'

Asked which nation he had adopted as a 'second team' as New Zealanders had been asked to do, he quipped, 'I'm adopting Tonga because I want them to come second tonight.'

Gates to Auckland's waterfront, which the government has nominated 'party central' and erected a purpose-built venue dubbed The Cloud after it wavy white roof, shut about an hour before the official opening ceremony.

Trains, buses and ferries in the city were stopped or delayed as the authorities said it had reached capacity.

Sally Woodfield, spokesperson for the Real New Zealand Festival, which is organizing a series of events around the country for the tournament, said in The Cloud that she could not estimate the numbers at the venue.

'There's been nothing like this in New Zealand before, but it's gone off amazingly well,' said Woodfield.

England and Scotland kick off their campaigns in the so-called 'group of death' Pool B tomorrow. Scotland play Romania at 2am BST before England take on Argentina in Dunedin at 9.30am.

The other home nation Wales start their campaign against South Africa at 9.30am on Sunday after Ireland play USA.

Hosts New Zealand, seeking their bid for a first World Cup crown since 1987, play their second match of the tournament against Japan at 9am on September 16.

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For a wee country the kiwis did a pretty good job of the opening ceremony.

- JJ, London, 10/9/2011 02:07

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Perhaps the 400,000 Kiwi's living in Australia would like to return to New Zealand, but they won't as the life style and standard of living in Australia is that much higher. New Zealand likes to paint itself as an independent country, but when it comes down to it they are completely dependant on Australia. It should have become the 7th state of Australia when it was invited to do so back in 1901. - True Blue, Melbourne Victoria Australia, 10/9/2011 01:16 Jealous much? I didn't realize Australia was totally self sufficient and had no need to trade with other countries. No wonder you have such a superiority complex.

- Julia, New Zealand, 10/9/2011 02:00

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Perhaps the 400,000 Kiwi's living in Australia would like to return to New Zealand, but they won't as the life style and standard of living in Australia is that much higher. New Zealand likes to paint itself as an independent country, but when it comes down to it they are completely dependant on Australia. It should have become the 7th state of Australia when it was invited to do so back in 1901.

- True Blue, Melbourne Victoria Australia, 10/9/2011 01:16

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I hid in my flat, can't stand rugby and all the hype.

- Megan, Auckland, NZ, 10/9/2011 00:27

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"British people are not as stupid as you may think" Actually, given that comment from Peter Venner they are!

- Colin, Wellington, NZ, 10/9/2011 00:20

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"now can England's rugby match it" - why favour England, DM? What about Scotland, Wales and Ireland? Wouldn't it fit in the headline box?

- Keen'n'Eager, OnAPlane, 09/9/2011 22:59

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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ministry of Sound – Clubbers Guide to Spring (Australian Edition) (2011)

Mofs_marc_thom
New Ministry of Sound - its a sure sign of spring and summer on the way... yusss..! 

VA – Ministry of Sound – Clubbers Guide to Spring (Australian Edition) (2011)
2 CDs | Genre: Dance | Release: 2011 | MP3 320 kbps | 352 MB

Tracklist:

DISC ONE (Mixed by Goodwill)
1. Example – Changed The Way You Kiss Me
2. Calvin Harris feat. Kelis – Bounce (Michael Woods Remix)
3. The Potbelleez – Midnight Midnight (Stafford Brothers Vocal Remix)
4. All The Lights – Chasing Colours (Ian Carey Remix)
5. Luciana – I\’m Still Hot (R3hab Remix)
6. Adele – Set Fire To The Rain (Thomas Gold Remix)
7. The Wombats – Techno Fan (Afrojack Remix)
8. Laidback Luke – Natural Disaster
9. Albin Myers – Air Drums
10. Dirty South & Thomas Gold feat. Kate Elsworth – Alive
11. PNAU – Solid Ground (Tim Mason Remix)
12. Adrian Lux feat. Rebecca & Fiona – Boy
13. The Aston Shuffle – Drop
14. Ridney – Always With You
15. Goodwill & Carl Kennedy – Home
16. Sharam Jey pres. Soundz Fresh – LetGGe’1/4Ga”o’s Get It On (Sebastien Drums & Ryan Adans Remix)
17. Dirty Secretz – Discopolis
18. Ray Foxx – The Trumpeter
19. Friendly Fires – Live Those Days Tonight (Tim Green Main Remix)
20. Azari & III – Hungry For The Power (Jamie Jones Ridge Street Remix)
21. Danny Daze feat Louisahhh! – Your Everything

DISC TWO (Mixed by Anna Lunoe)
1. His Majesty Andre – Untitled Vinyl
2. Sneaky Sound System – We Love (Aston Shuffle Remix)
3. Teenage Bad Girl feat. Rye Rye – X Girl (Bart B More Main Mix)
4. Soho Spiv feat. Danny Freddy – Hands In The Air
5. autoKratz – Becoming The Wraith (Savage Skulls & Douster Remix)
6. The Subs – DonGGe’1/4Ga”o’t Stop (The Aston Shuffle Remix)
7. Green Velvet feat. Rossoul – Millie Vanillie
8. Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend (Azari & III Remix)
9. Toni Toni Lee – 2 Phreeky (Diamond Lights Remix)
10. Beni feat. Sean deLear and Turbotito – It\’s A Bubble (DJ Sneak Remix)
11. Zombie Disco Squad – Pinky
12. Jon Giovanni – Bamboo
13. Anna Lunoe & Them Jeans – Voodoo
14. Style Of Eye – Sexx
15. Swedish House Mafia – Save The World (Style Of Eye & Carli Remix)
16. Vato Gonzalez feat. Foreign Beggars – Badman Riddim (Jump)
17. Swick feat. Marsepan – Flick It Up (Will Bailey Remix)
18. Crookers pres. Dr. Gonzo feat. Wax Motif & Neoteric – Springer
19. Wretch 32 – Traktor (Mike Delinquent Go Harder Dub)
20. Cee Lo Green – I Want You (Redlight Remix)
21. SBTRKT – Wildfire
22. Skream feat. Sam Frank – Where You Should Be
23. DJ Fresh – Louder

Short preview, LoFi Quality (128 kbps):


Besse Cooper, World's Oldest Person, To Mark 115th Birthday In Georgia

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who would of thought that someone can live this long.. amazing

Monday, August 22, 2011

Slip 'N Slide

A drunk man at Chicago's Wrigley Field finds a unique way to use the urinal trough! See for yourself: