On October 25, a grand ceremony was held at night at the Tingyin Lake Square in Nanhai Guangdong to celebrate the opening of the Orienteering World Cup Final 2019 and the Guangdong Historical Road Orienteering Championship “Surfing 4K IPTV” Cup #5. It was hosted by International Orienteering Federation (IOF) and the organizers included Aero Sports, Radio Sports & Marine Models Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China, China Radio Sports and Orienteering Association, Guangdong Provincial Sports Administration, and the People’s Government of Foshan Municipality.

　　A grand opening highlighting unique cultural characteristics of Lingnan and China

　　It was a solemn ceremony and a great celebration. Athletes from 37 countries and regions marched in. Then the hall was heated up after all standing up to sing the national anthem of China.

The host team of China marched in.

A solemn flag raising ceremony was held.

Wang Yuping, Director General of Guangdong Provincial Sports Administration, was delivering a speech.

Qiao Yu, Deputy Mayor of Foshan, was delivering a speech.

Leho Haldna, President of the IOF, was delivering a speech.

Jia Bing, Director General of Aero Sports, Radio Sports & Marine Models Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China, was delivering a speech.

A representative of the athletes was swearing.

A representative of the referees was swearing.

Qin Weizhong, Vice Governor of Guangdong, announced the opening of the Orienteering World Cup Final 2019 and the Guangdong Historical Road Orienteering Championship “Surfing 4K IPTV” Cup #5.

　　Then presented was a theatrical show which highlighted distinctive culture features of Lingnan and China. It was named “In Foshan We Orient Our Objectives and Chase Our Dream”.

The program Ancient Glory Brightened through the Days was to tell the history of the Nanyue Historical Road.

The program Girls in Lingnan was to present the grace of Foshan.

The program Orienteering Runners was to showcase this sport of rising popularity.

The program of Lingnan Culture along the Historical Road was to display the local traditions and culture in Foshan by integrating the performances of lion-dancing, dragon-dancing and Wushu.

A hot dance was performed by a group of energetic young people.

　　More importantly, the stunning debut of the event’s theme song Chasing the Sun was released at the ceremony. It was sung by Song Xuelai and Xiong Sijia, two famous local singers. According to Fang Xiaocong, Music and Sports Performance Director of the Nanyue Historical Road, the writing of the song was inspired by the sun which represents the spirit of sport and the common interest of all people.

Song Xuelai and Xiong Sijia was singing Chasing the Sun, the theme song of the Orienteering World Cup Final 2019.

Many children and young people gathered around the exhibition booth of local intangible cultural heritages including paper-cutting and sugar painting.

　　A concert of traditional Chinese music highlighting the creativeness of the revitalization of Nanyue Historical Road

　　On the day of the opening ceremony, there was also a concert presented by Guangdong National Orchestra. It attracted athletes and runners from 37 countries and regions as well as the guests and participants of the event. To involve traditional music is one of the latest methods of revitalizing the Nanyue Historical Road.

Musicians were playing graceful traditional Chinese music.

The musicians were playing the classical pieces with their instruments.

　　A stunning game promoting exchanges between China and the world

　　According to the organizers, the competitions, including the middle distance, the sprint and the sprint relay, will be held on October 26, 27 and 29. Over 300 athletes and 1000 spectator players from 37 countries and regions will attend the competitions.

　　Traveling on the Historical Road, athletes, journalists and tourists from all over the world will experience with their own eyes and steps the unique culture of China, and thus the event promotes the exchanges between China and the world.