UAE dazzles with mix of old and new at Fifa Club World Cup

Abu Dhabi: The sixth edition of the Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2009 got off to a spectacular start at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium yesterday as the UAE once again dazzled the world with a perfect blend of tradition, culture and modern entertainment.

The roads leading to the Al Jazira Club, which houses the state-of-the-art stadium, were clogged hours before the start as a horde of volunteers, officials and policemen eased the fans and visitors to their respective areas. Though the spirit of the lead-up to yesterday's opener of this prestigious event was ‘Make some noise', the opening ceremony enthralled those lucky to be in the stadium with an eye-catching display.

A few hundred performers of all age groups came together to dish out a varied display in a short span, the music a blend of Emirati, Arabic and western while the dances included the eye-catching Al Ayyala and ended with some of the most modern sequences of lights and lasers.

‘The Emirates' scripted in authentic Arabic calligraphy and encapsulated in a dome of red and orange — the emblem of the 2009 edition of this annual event, soon gave way to the large bands of red, the colours of UAE league champions Al Ahli.

A sizable crowd, armed with UAE flags and portraits of the UAE leaders, and fans reflecting the diverse cultures in the UAE, roared as local champions from Dubai, Al Ahli Club and New Zealand and Oceania Group champions Auckland FC kicked off the championship to a thrilling start.