(ATR) Hundreds of thousands fill the center of Buenos Aires for the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games.
The Saturday night event was held without a stadium. The streets around the landmark Obelisk heldthe spectators, none of whom needed tickets.
The 90-minute program celebrated the 4,000 athletes who will take part in this third edition of the YOG. The Games run Oct. 18.
The weather was inviting for an open air festival - a cool spring evening in the capital city.
With a record 206 nations taking part, the parade of national flags was completed in a brisk 17 minutes, not the 90-minute opus for the Parade of Athletes in the Summer Olympics.
Stars from Argentina pop music provided the entertainment for the fast-paced show. On the formal side, IOC Pres. Thomas Bach and Argentina NOC Pres. Gerardo Werthein went tie-less. Bach invited two Olympic Game-Changers to also make remarks; Argentina Pres. Mauricio Macri declared the Games officially open.
The cauldron at the Obelisk was lit by two Olympic medalists -- judoka Paula Pareto and sailor Santiago Lange.
Coverage of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games is made possible in part by BA 2018
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