On Thursday 11.000 people celebrated the official opening of the IXth Eurogames in the Olympic Hall, Munich. International and national stars including Maria Glen, Jimmy Somerville, Georgette Dee and the Croonettes got the event off to a great start.

An unending Mexican wave went around the arena as the Mayor of Munich, Chrisitian Ude, attempted to open the games at around 9 o`clock. A few moments later the flagbearers of the IX games entered the arena to be greated by over 11.000 people in the Olympic Hall.
In his speech, Ude, welcome the guests with the words:
"In this town you are ALL Welcome"
The Eurogames show just how much lesbians and gay people have achieved, even if this is not yet enough. Lesbians and gay people are welcomed in Munich. He continued,
"you are all the brightest part of Munich".

Right from the start of the entry procession, of the over 5300 sportsmen and women from 38 countries, could the shouts of welcome be heard throughout the Olympic Park.
"The atmosphere was overwhelming "
commented Mark Tewksbury who, with Isabell Varell, compared the evening. Tewksbury is one of the few professional sportsmen who is openly gay. He continued:
"I have never experienced so much energy"
The great atmosphere was helped by an array of both national and international stars not to mention some of the impromptu mini shows put on by the entering sports clubs. The highlights of the evening included the ex-Communards lead singer, Jimmy Somerville,
the singing rebel, Marla Glen and the Croonettes, who brought 20s swing into the Olympic Hall. The USC wheel chair dance group wowed the crowd with their well known number, whilst the Munich aerobics group, moving to the sounds of the jungle beats "Servus, Gruezi und Hallo", brought the house down. But particularly impressive were the events opening act, "The Schwuhplatters", the worldknown Munich gay schwuhplatters club. Tewksbury commented:
"Its worth visiting Germany just for them".