The gala leaves the pandemic behind and shows, three years later, the greatness of the event in a Reale Arena that brings together thousands of people
More than 1,000 days later -the last one was held on July 8, 2019-, the Donosti Cup again brought together thousands of people in an opening ceremony. The Anoeta Stadium was the scene of an event that gave away images to remember and that made the start of the thirtieth edition of the tournament official, which, yes, in what refers to the sports section, had started hours before in the fields of Gipuzkoa , Iparralde and Navarra.
The protagonists were once again the thousands of players who turned the Reale Arena into the nerve center of the tournament. The mobiles were turned on during the almost two hours that the event lasted. The photographs, at the foot of the field and in the stands, were a constant, snapshots that will remain etched forever not only in the memory of smartphones, but also in the hearts of the boys and girls who felt special for a day.
This thirtieth edition is that of the reunion, but, above all, it is that of the more than 12,000 athletes who will fill the soccer fields of the territory in the coming days.
The beginning had an emotional point to commemorate the 30 years of the Donosti Cup. The mythical ‘Barcelona’ by Montserrat Caballé & Freddie Mercury was played to remember that it was precisely in 1992 when the Donosti Cup began, coinciding with the Olympic Games.
As is tradition, and after welcoming all attendees, the parade of male and female players was the high point of the night. The sensation of jumping onto the pitch at the Reale Arena is a magical, unique moment, in many cases unrepeatable, that young people appreciate as it deserves.
There were more daring, others more timid, but the smile on the mouth was a constant. Soccer players, men and women, from 18 countries who vibrated in an Anoeta Stadium that recovered its best version, that of the great nights, that of a Donosti Cup that wrote a new page in its history in a very special year for the tournament. There was no better way to reach this milestone, these 30 years of life, than by recovering the traditional opening ceremony.
That spirit of wanting to make up for lost time due to the pandemic was noted in the stands, which were riddled with flags from all countries, with special prominence for those of the United States and Mexico. But all the attendees were impregnated with enthusiasm. Every time the camera focused on a group of spectators, their arms moved from side to side, without stopping, wanting to be part of an event full of atmosphere, color and good vibes.
a total party
The gala had everything. Beyond the true protagonists, the players, the music was very present. There was time for the aurresku, which came after the words of nine athletes who spoke in the nine languages present at the tournament and who emphasized the value of sportsmanship in a championship like the Donosti Cup.
Aysha Bengoetxea, finalist of ‘La Voz Kids’, performed at the Reale Arena before a dedicated audience that vibrated with the singer’s music. She did, yes, together with the Donostia Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, which played with the colors yellow and blue, which seemed to be a clear nod to Ukraine. Later, there was an emotional ‘Happy birthday to you’ for the tournament, for this thirtieth edition that demonstrates the relevance of the tournament for the city and the territory and its growth over these years.
Fireworks were also not lacking, which came from the hand of Pirotecnia Valencia and which brought color and noise to a night that lacked for nothing. It was the epilogue to a special opening ceremony, animated and giving way to football throughout the week.
