We live the game! The theme of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship was seen and heard at the official opening in many ways. The tournaments colours, blue and maroon, lit up the arena, the tribunes, and the corridors. Lasers, lights, and pyrotechnics were at their best.
Petteri Hietanen, Event Director of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, says that the aim has been to tie the slogans of the Ice Hockey World Championship and the story of ice hockey to the opening ceremony. Everything that the Ice Hockey World Championship hasto offer.
"There has been a desire to bring a suitable and constructed audiovisual entity to the music, which has utilized all the technology that such a new arena allows", says Hietanen.
Petteri Hietanen, Event Director of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, says that the aim has been to tie the slogans of the Ice Hockey World Championship and the story of ice hockey to the opening ceremony. Everything that the Ice Hockey World Championship hasto offer.
"There has been a desire to bring a suitable and constructed audiovisual entity to the music, which has utilized all the technology that such a new arena allows", says Hietanen.
From Sandstorm to Snowstorm
At the opening ceremony, the stage was center ice and Finnish musician Darude aka Ville Virtanen put on a massive show. His greatest success of all time - Sandstorm was transformed into a new, classic version which was made to fit the theme of the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and performed together with Petri Alanko. After the opening ceremony on the ice, one could rename the new version Snowstorm.Virtanen himself played ice hockey at a young age and continues to do so on and off, so hearing his own music at the opening ceremony of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship was a fantastic experience.
"Hockey is close to my heart, the games are in Finland, and you get to open the event. This is a dream come true," as the musician describes his feelings.
Opening Ceremony
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Goosebumps all around
The opening show has been planned and done closely for over six months and a large group of event production professionals has been involved. Hietanen has been spinning the elements of the show on a computer screen, but always seeing the show performed live gave him goosebumps." It's thrilling, and especially when you see it live in the arena, it feels pretty awesome."
Musician Ville Virtanen also admits that this as was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
" Yes, I will make this my number one experience in my athletic career, because I was able to warm the crowds from center ice at the Ice Hockey World Championship," laughs Virtanen.