Erzurum counting down to today's Universiade opening ceremony

Winter Universiade 2011 kicks off today in Erzurum, Turkey's winter sports center, in earnest. All eyes are on the city, which got the largest sports investment in Turkey's history, about TL 600 million, for the long-awaited event. The official ceremony will begin with an announcement from President Abdullah Gul, as required by FISU, Universiade's organizing body. Belgian-born Turkish pop singer Hadise will perform in Istanbul to mark the games' opening, while world-famous Turkish dance company Anadolu Atesi (the Fire of Anatolia) holds a show in Erzurum. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live in 80 countries around the world. A double-headed eagle mockup symbolizing the coat of arms of the Seljuk Empire will fly in the air above Cemal Gursel Stadium, where the opening and closing festivities will take place. Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also attend the opening festivities. During the ceremony, riders will enter the stadium on horseback carrying the flags of the 58 participating countries. One of the riders will throw a traditional jereed javelin in the air, accompanied by a visual multimedia show. Turkey's flag-bearer for the opening is skier Sebahattin Oglago, who was among the athletes representing Turkey at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, and will compete in cross-country skiing in Erzurum. "I thank my elders, who gave me the honor of carrying the flag at such an important event," he told the Anatolia news agency. "I will compete for a medal in Erzurum, and believe I will win."