The World Cup which along with its opening spectacular contained a huge shock in the first match as tiny outsiders Senegal beat world champions France. More of that in a moment － but first Xu Hong shows you how the great tournament got under way, with more than a dash of excitement and fear.
" From the East" is the motto of this year's World Cup. Organizers hope it will be a force for peace and harmony in a troubled world.
Kim Dae－jung, who's in his final year as South Korean president, opened Asia's first World Cup in Seoul late on Friday.
While the Nobel Peace laureate spoke of his aspirations for a peaceful era, anti－aircraft missiles and fighter jets protected the skies over the stadium.
On the ground thousands of soldiers, snipers and anti－terror experts were deployed.
The opening ceremony ran smoothly.
More than 2,000 performers, half of them soldiers in traditional folk costume staged an extravaganza of Korean culture and cutting－edge technology.
The show featured 32 giant triangular drums － one for each team taking part.
Staged at a cost of 8 million dollars, the ceremony marked the beginning of the most lucrative World Cup ever.
Television broadcasters have paid more than 800 million dollars to show the month－long tournament, 10 times what was paid for the 1998 event in France. Corporate and other sponsorship is expected to double television revenues, making it the most lucrative World Cup on record.
For the first time, FIFA will fine players if they receive red or yellow cards, so it also promises to be one of the toughest World Cup Finals ever.
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