What will the Opening Ceremony be like? The Nagano Games will begin at 11:00 A.M. on February 7, 1998, with the ringing of the bell at Zenkoji, a temple in Nagano, and other bells all around the world. Satellite hook-ups will make sure that the bells are rung at exactly the same time. The stadium where the Ceremony will be held will be decorated with eight onbashira--giant 17-meter (56-foot) pillars made from fir trees--two each on all four sides, forming the four gates to the arena. Close to 1,000 people will chant an ancient Japanese prayer as the pillars are raised. A yokozuna (champion sumo wrestler) will also help to liven up the Ceremony with a performance of the dohyo-iri (the ceremony to open a tournament). He will be accompanied by all the top wrestlers, dressed in the most formal uniform of their sport. Children from Nagano City will dance while dressed as yukinko, or "snow sprites." Then the athletes will make their appearance. After speeches to welcome the competitors and the lighting of the Olympic flame, Seiji Ozawa will conduct an orchestra and chorus in a performance of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." The 2,000-person choir in the stadium will also be joined by satellite uplink with singers in Beijing, Berlin, Capetown, New York, and Sydney--on five continents, to match the five Olympic rings. The Opening Ceremony will end with this song being sung around the entire world.

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