Copenhagen welcomed OutGames athletes and supporters to the city and to the official opening ceremony on July 25, 2009. The colorful event was held in the City Hall Square in the center of the city. There were about 6,000 athletes from more than 80 countries who paraded across the specially built stage and then watched the welcoming speeches by the Lord Mayor and OutGames officials. Following the talks the crowds were entertained by music, dance, acrobatic performances and a huge party.

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Nightfall on the opening ceremonies.
Gay America flag.
More than 80 countries were represented.
Colorful Team Mexico ready to compete.
Team New Zealand waiting to onstage.
Athletes (bowling) from Slovenia.
Courageous participants from Nigeria.
Decorative Asian participants.
Team Los Angeles ready for their appearance.
The stage is set for the ceremony.
Spectators awaiting the start of the opening ceremony.
Team Belgium came prepared for rain.
Copenhagen Stop AIDS cheerleaders enter the ceremony.
Team Philippines enters the ceremony.
Small team from Nepal comes onstage.
Copenhagen Stop AIDS cheerleaders enter the ceremony.
Team Belgium brought umbrellas.
Team Denmark enters the ceremony.
International audience.
‘Fire artist’ performs with magic lights.
Aerial artists assisted by ground crew in a brief rain
Aerial artist Anders Astrup Jensen performed on his ‘tissue rigging’.
Team Thailand is good in volleyball.
Lord Mayor Britt Bjerregaard of Copenhagen.
OutGames banner in the city streets.
H.C. Anderson Castle in Tivoli was the OutGames registration site.
H.C. Anderson Castle in Tivoli was the OutGames registration site.
Theme buttons ‘Open’ were free to all.
Danish Stop AIDS organization offered free condoms at registration.
Constructing the huge performance stage for the opening ceremony (with
Constructing the huge performance stage for the opening ceremony (with
Team Paris from la belle France.
Host Team Denmark showed up by the hundreds.
Decorative cover of the OutGames program (250 pages).
Team Italy arrives with a flair.
Team Washington, DC arrives in Copenhagen.
French and Danish European unions.
Team Bulgaria shows their website.
Team Berlin chatting up.
Dancers from Team Denmark practicing.
Team Basel from Switzerland.
Team Canada gathering for the ceremony.
Colorful women athletes.

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