Beyoncé Opens Five Star Donbass Arena in Donetsk

Beyoncé Opens Five Star Donbass Arena in Donetsk

DONETSK, Ukraine, September 3/PRNewswire/ --

- Stadium will be the new Home for UEFA Cup Champions, FC Shakhtar

The Grand Opening of Donbass Arena, which is the first football stadium
in Eastern Europe to be designed and built to UEFA five star standards, took
place in Donetsk on August 29. The US singer Beyoncé Knowles was the star of the
Grand Opening Ceremony which was attended by over 45,000 people. The stadium
will now become home to UEFA Cup Champions, FC Shakhtar.

The stunning Grand Opening Ceremony was produced by the Italian agency
K-Events. The goal set by the organisers was to present to the world the
Donbass region which is famous for its miners and coalfields. The show opened
with a dramatic mining-themed mass choreographic performance and music as
hundreds of young volunteers from the region performed a dance tribute to the
miners while three of Ukraine's most famous singers, Natal'ya Mogilevskaya,
Svetlana Loboda (who represented Ukraine at the Eurovision 2009 song contest)
and Aliona Vinnitskaya, performed rock band Queen's famous anthem - "We will
rock you."

The President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko was present and addressed the
audience saying : "Victories be Yours, Donetsk and Donbass! Victories be
Yours, Ukraine, here in Donbass Arena! I wish you all, the people of Donetsk,
glory, happiness and joy! Glory to Ukraine!"

Legendary past players and coaches of FC Shakhtar also paraded while
historic archive film was played on the Arena's two giant screens. The UEFA
Cup itself, which FC Shakhtar won in May 2009, was brought from high above
the stadium by a giant football-shaped balloon down to the pitch level and
presented to the club's President, Rinat Akhmetov. Mr Akhmetov in his speech
to officially open the Arena said: "We open Donbass Arena to the entire world
on the City Day and the Miners' Day. Donbass is renowned for its labour and
for the strong, hard-working and dignified people who live here. Dear
friends, Donbass Arena has been built thanks to you, Donbass Arena has been
built for you. My compliments! Thank You!"

The show ended with a gala concert by Beyoncé who captivated the audience
with her high energy performance. The finale of the Grand Show was an
incredible firework display which illuminated the night sky of Donetsk above
the Donbass Arena to the accompaniment of a musical symphony.

All Grand Show news from Donetsk: http://www.donbass-arena.com/en

Source: Donbass Arena LLC

Contacts for media only: Andriy Babeshko, Head of the Media Centre of Donbass Arena LLC, a.babeshko@Donbass-arena.ua, Contact Phone +38-067-5433325

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