With a dazzling display of music and dance, and a strong message of “Embrace the moment,” Belleville welcomed the world Tuesday night.

The opening ceremonies of the Under 19 Women’s World Floorball championships were short on speeches and long on entertainment as Quinte area citizens were introduced to the athletes from 15 countries who will be competing for the top prize in their sport.

The athletes were paraded in to warm applause for the crowd – and loud cheers for Team Canada – and left following a dazzling artistic performance by members of the Quinte Ballet School.

“It was a pretty full house and the ballet school was excellent, the speakers were excellent, so it was a great start,” said Brett Davis, president of the organizing committee who has been leading the effort to make this event come into being.

“It’s an incredibly powerful feeling, the world championships happening. It’s been three years of long hard work and now it’s going to pay off this week.”

 Among the dignitaries bringing greetings during the opening ceremonies were Mayor Taso Christopher, MP Neil Ellis, MPP Todd Smith and Col. Colin Keiver of 8 Wing Trenton.

Christopher made a point of welcoming all the teams by name as well as naming all the members of the organizing committee and thanking them for all their hard work.

“They are true ambassadors for our city and for our country,” he said.

Ellis recounted how he had told the House of Commons earlier in the day that the International Floorball Federation could not have picked a better city than Belleville or a better venue than the Quinte Sport and Wellness Centre.

“The amazing moment in your life that you will always remember will include being in our great city,” he told the athletes. “When you leave hopefully you will bring a little of our culture home with you, and leave a little of yours here with us.”

Smith recounted how in 1988, the year Elizabeth Manley won her Olympic medal, he was coaching a girls hockey team in New Brunswick, on which 13 players wore figure skates because back then there were not a lot of hockey skates being made for young women.

“It’s nice to see how far women athletes have come in 28 years,” he said.

But it was Manley who delivered the most inspiring words (see related story) urging the women to “embrace the moment” with everything they have.

“Love yourself and love what you do,” she urged the more than 300 women athletes spread through the balcony seats. “If you love what you are doing, you will always be successful.

“Enjoy this wonderful city and go home with great memories.”

 Tomas Eriksson, president of the International Floorball Federation, said he was honoured to preside over the first world floorball championship in North America, as well as the first world championship Belleville.

“We are writing history in floorball, history in Canada and history in Belleville,” he said. “I now declare these championships open. Let us play.”

Canada kicks off the event Wednesday morning against Japan in a sold out game that has set the single game attendance record for the U19 world championships.

Canada is back in action again Thursday night at 7:10 against Taiwan and Friday night at 7:10 against Germany. Both games are in the Yardmen Arena

The playoffs begin Saturday morning. If Canada qualifies for the B semi-final, their game will be at 7:10 p.m. in the Yardmen Arena