European Capital of Culture: Opening Ceremony in Pécs
The European Capital of Culture Programme was opened on 10 January 2010 with 10,000-12,000 people attending the opening ceremony at the Széchenyi square. This year Essen, Istanbul and Pécs hold the title of the European Capital of Culture.
Before the official opening ceremony an international press conference was held in the Hotel Palatinus, where Gordon Bajnai, Prime Minister of Hungary emphasized that 2010 offers a great opportunity for Pécs to win long-deserved attention and raise its role in the region and in the country. The Prime Minister thanked the two former mayors of Pécs for their contribution: Péter Tasnádi (who died last year) and László Toller (who is permanently ill).
With these events, "Pécs has become the capital of Hungary and the capital of European culture," Bajnai said. Zsolt Páva, mayor of Pécs emphasized that Pécs is prepared for the start of the EcoC programmes and will live up to the role of the cultural capital of Hungary and Europe. "Pécs is a welcoming and merry city, trying to give this merriness to all the visitors" - said Páva.
Every historical period from the past of Pécs was evoked on the stage at the opening ceremony with nearly one thousand performers, laser-show and fabulous light-painting. The ceremony ended with a song performed by famous people: Ferenc Demjén, Evelyne Kandech, Gyöngyi Lang and basketball players of the MiZo Pécs team.
In 2010 there will be 450 programmes, organizers count on one million tourists this year.
The University of Pécs (PTE) played and continues to play an important role from the start of the EcoC programme. The University is interested in some of the key projects: one of them is the South-Transdanubian Regional Library and Knowledge Centre, where the University of Pécs is a co-owner and the other important project is the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter, where the Faculty of Music and Visual Arts will be located.
For further information on the relationship of the University and the EcoC
Dr. Dénes Koltai
Rector's Representative for the European
Capital of Culture, Pécs 2010 programme
Tel.: +36 72/ 501-500/ 2539
E-mail: koltai@human.pte.hu
Judit Geresdi-Kovács
ECoC programme coordinator at the University of Pécs
Tel.: +36 72/ 501-500/ 2414
E-mail: geresdi.judit@pte.hu
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European Capital of Culture Pécs 2010 - Opening Ceremony 10 January »
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Short Film about UP
Please watch this short film about the University of Pécs (UP) made by the Universitas Television, the TV station of the UP, with the contribution of international students studying here.
