Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Lang Lang will lead a group of
renowned artists performing at the opening ceremony for the 2007
Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, organizers
announced on Saturday.
The opening ceremony's creative and production team includes 13
top industry professionals from both home and abroad.
Ma, who has 15 Grammys to his name, will serve as music adviser
for the event. Lu Chuan, director of the award-winning film
"Kekexili," will be the event's artistic director.
Game organizers also announced that Lang, an emerging pianist
who has been chosen spokesperson for the games, is the first
Chinese performer to confirm that he will play at the opening
ceremony on October 2.
Other international stars taking part in the event include
Olympics global ambassador Zhang Ziyi and Jackie Chan.
"Through the collaboration of all production team members, the
games' opening ceremony will undoubtedly become an unforgettable
experience for an audience of millions," said Don Misher, who will
direct TV broadcasts of the ceremony.
The producers, however, refused to disclose what the ceremony
will include, saying details won't be announced until next
month.
Scheduled to run from Oct. 2 to 11, the 2007 Special Olympics
mark the first time the event will be held in Asia. It is expected
to gather 7,200 athletes, 40,000 volunteers and thousands of
spectators from 167 countries and regions.
(Shanghai Daily February 13, 2007)