NEARLY 5,000 TICKETS SOLD FOR OPENING/CLOSING CEREMONIES AND PILGRIM SHOW ON FIRST DAY OF SALES

The FINA World Championships Opening Ceremony is a protocol event hosted for all the participants of the tournament: athletes, FINA Family, FINA Partners, Championships Partners, FINA National Member Federations, and the Organising Committee.  

Taking into account the approved concept of the Opening Ceremony, the Tatneft Arena Sports Palace was selected to host the official opening of the Championships. "This allowed allocating a certain quantity of seats to spectators who are not Championships participants. Nevertheless, the number of seats allocated to spectators wouldn't be enough to seat all those willing to attend the event because the interest in the Opening Ceremony is expected to be extremely high. For this reason, to accommodate locals and visitors, we came up with a proposal to stage re-runs of the major part of the Opening Ceremony, and this decision was backed by President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov," said Director General of the Executive Directorate for Sports Projects, Azat Kadyrov. 

Therefore, for the first time in the history of sporting events, re-runs of the Opening Ceremony will be organised especially for citizens of Kazan and its visitors during eight days, from July 26 to August 2. The only difference between the Pilgrim show and the Opening Ceremony is that there won't be any parade of nations and welcome speeches in the former. 

The script of the Opening Ceremony was developed by the creative team headed by People's Artist of Russia, Igor Krutoy, and artistic director, Alexey Sechenov. 

The show will reveal one of the multiple hidden meanings of the word 'water': water as the origin, as the beginning. The most sought-after place on the planet is a mysterious spring of life, wisdom and eternal youth. Wherever this cradle of life is located, it will always be the key to truth and well-being and provide answers to our life's most important questions. 

The road to the life spring is the most challenging one and each step is not only to make pilgrims closer to their destination but also to help them learn more about themselves and change themselves if it will be required for continuing the journey. This show is about people who at some point of their lives found answers to the most important questions like 'Who am I?' and 'Why do I live?'. The truth that seemed to be unachievable turned out to be really close and people march toward it paving the road with their good deeds and thoughts. 

The show's plot is based on real-life events; it tells the stories of people who discovered what their life purpose is. In each part of the show, they will be expected to make fateful decisions, to keep in mind their past experience and to look fearlessly into a future. Real-life stories about courage, compassion and addiction to knowledge will show that people are capable of changing the world around them. 

The audience will be the principal participant of this journey. Each part of the show, each step along the figurative road towards the life spring will be made with the direct involvement of literally each and every member of the audience. By using props, spectators will get wrapped up in the story. 

The show's sceneries will be installed on a multi-level cascade of swimming pools ranging in depth from 0.05 to 3 metres. Performers and props will be able to plunge into the water and emerge above the surface. The deep pool, 150 cubic metres in volume, will be used by highly-skilled synchronised swimming performers. Trapeze artists will fly above the arena while ballet dancers will perform on the stage. 

The action will unfold in all possible dimensions adding a special vibrancy and vividness to the ceremony so that every spectator and television viewer will be able to embrace the show's storytelling and journey through it together with the organisers. 

The 2.5-hour Opening Ceremony will be aired on one of the federal channels and will be broadcast live at the FINA Water World Park. The coverage of the Opening Ceremony will reach an unprecedented global audience, delivering images from Kazan to water sports fans in 200 countries around the world.