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Official opening of a building or event
This article is about the formal beginning of a major sports event. For the American luxury streetwear brand, see
Opening Ceremony (brand)
.
An
opening ceremony
,
grand opening
, or
ribbon-cutting ceremony
marks the official opening of a newly constructed location or the start of an event.
[1]
Opening ceremonies at significant events such as the
Olympic Games
,
FIFA World Cup
, and the
Rugby World Cup
might involve thousands of participants and be watched worldwide. Such tournaments often also include a
closing ceremony
at the end of the event.
[2]
Ribbon cutting
[
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]
A ribbon cutting is a ceremonial event to mark the opening of a new business or a newly renovated business location. It typically involves cutting a ribbon with giant
scissors
, speeches and presentations by local officials and business owners, and tours of the new facilities. Members of the local community often attend the event, the local chapter of the
chamber of commerce
, the media, and other guests. It is seen as a celebration of the business and the community it serves.
The ritual originated in the ancient ceremony to open the
Cloth Fair
at
Bartholomew the Great
,
London
. Since
1133
, the
Lord Mayor of London
would open the fair each year by ceremonially cutting a piece of cloth.
[3]
Soft launch or opening
[
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]
In the case of physical establishments, its grand opening might be preceded by a "soft opening" or "
soft launch
" in which the establishment begins to operate with little promotion to allow testing of operations, procedures, and facilities.
See also
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References
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External links
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