/C O R R E C T I O N — Celebrate Libya/

TRIPOLI, Libya - In the news release, “Celebrate Libya Sees Olympic-Scale Success While World Watches On” issued on 2 Sep 2009 15:44 GMT, by Celebrate Libya over PR Newswire, We have been advised by the team that in the fourth paragraph the current Ukrainian Prime Minister Ioulia Tymochenko was erroneously referred to as the “former” Prime Minister of Ukraine, as originally issued inadvertently. Complete, corrected release follows:

Dignitaries from around the world gathered in Tripoli’s Green Park last night to witness what has been one of Africa’s largest, most successful and most spectacular events in history. The celebration marked the 40th Anniversary of the Al Fateh Revolution on the precise date that had seen the unpopular King Idris deposed following the country’s liberation from Italy. Guests joined Muammar Al Gaddafi, Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution, for a full schedule of activities from a military parade to an exclusive Iftar dinner and opening ceremony designed to bring to life Libya’s rich history and culture.

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Military precision

The celebrations launched with a perfectly executed military parade involving troops from countries across the world. African nations such as Senegal and Algeria participated alongside European countries including Italy and Ukraine, marching to music and bearing their national flags. Troops from Greece and the French Foreign legion also participated. The soldiers were followed by a full artillery of military vehicles, from trucks to tanks, some carrying and anti-aircraft weaponry while naval vessels passed by offshore. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, King Abdullah of Jordan, Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani from Qatar, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, Tunisia’s President Ben Ali, Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Boutaflika, Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Benin’s President Karekou were amongst the VIP audience as the Frecce Tricolori, Italian acrobatic planes, flew in formation over the parade ground and around Tripoli’s beautiful coastline.

VIP Iftar

Close by dignitaries made their way a specially designed dining area, constructed to float atop the water of the Red Castle lake. A lantern-lit path from the bank of the lake to the VIP iftar was created in front of the Red Castle outer wall onto which unique projections were placed. The projections mark the beginning of what is known as ‘Libya by Light’, a week-long schedule of Libya inspired images across six of the country’s key cities. Some of the best international brands were brought in to offer a new dimension to the proceedings; the meal itself was designed and prepared by acclaimed Parisian restaurant Le Notre and guests were given limited edition gold Chopard watches with outline of Africa on the face and a diamond marking Libya within it.

Libya takes to the stage

As hundreds of performers prepared themselves for their grand debut on what is considered by organizers to be one of the largest tent-like stages to have ever been constructed, dignitaries arrived in golf kart manufactured by the likes of Hummer and Cadillac. Joined by the Leader’s family, further guests attended the opening ceremony included Turkey first lady, Prime Minister, Amina Erdogan, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Ioulia Tymochenko, French Minister for Co-operation Alain Joyandet and the President of Chad Idriss Deby and the President of Niger Mamadou Tandja. And the show certainly impressed; acrobats, lasers, projections and illuminated sculptures of animals all came together to give the show a sense of style, grandeur and magic.

The story of Libya was told using a combination of dance, music and lights starting from the earliest days of Libyan civilization through to modern times. Sheshonq, a pharaoh of Libyan origin emerged from the towering sphinx to crowds of awestruck ‘followers’. The full height of the huge stage was alive with movement as aerial displays of acrobatics depicted both the beauty of Libyan nature and the Great Man-Made River and the architectural splendor of Libya’s ancient occupiers.

During the performance mounted horsemen also galloped across the stage, adding a very visual dimension to the story of Omar Al Mukhtar, the revolutionary attributed with leading the Libyan people in a revolt against the Italians. This visionary leader, played by Anthony Quinn in celebrated filmed Lion of the Desert, opened a section of films highlighting milestones in modern Libyan times. Never before seen photos of the Leader’s private life and family showed a lesser seen side of Gaddafi over the years, viewed by all on full size screens on stage. Images of Libya both past and present were projected onto screens of water before a Volkswagen Beetle was driven on stage, representing an early trip taken across Libya by the Leader. Audiences were also given the opportunity to relive through archive footage the many highlights of the Leader’s forty years, his challenges and successes, the central idea of his Third Universal Theory, the Green Book, and his first communique announcing the establishment of the republic in 1969, replacing the monarchy.

Celebrate Africa

A celebration of Africa was a core part of the performance, with lively dancing, costume, colour and singing. Giant illuminated African animal structures glowed in the darkness of the street representing the diversity of African wildlife. It was also during this celebration of Africa that a new monument to Africa and its Union was unveiled on Tripoli’s ‘corniche’, with African national flags uncurling with dramatic precision and timing.

The celebration closed with a spectacular firework display, launched from ships offshore. The show’s grand finale was a spectacular fireworks display orchestrated by the French company, Group F, who are credited with some of the most impressive light displays including the Eiffel Tower’s Millennium Celebrations. Lasting over seven minutes, the 2,500 fireworks stunned crowds of people as well as guests closing the awe-inspiring opening celebration.

The grand celebration sets in motion a week of unprecedented events scheduled to sweep through the country in an effort to introduce some of Libya national treasures to the world. Surrounded by the Sahara dunes, in Ghadames, VIPs will witness tribal touareg horse shows accompanied by traditional music and dance. The location will also host the largest fleet of hot air balloons launched, with each of the 40 proudly displaying an African country flag. Concerts featuring both international and Arab music will be set in some of the world’s best preserved sites of world heritage such as Leptis Magna and Sabratha, while images and lights will be projected on monuments in cities across the country.

With Celebrate Libya, attention has been brought to bear on the nation with so much to offer. International investors had already long been eyeing Libya and its emerging industries. Ranked as the second wealthiest country in Africa and the continent’s largest oil producer, the ‘Gateway to Africa’ has already privatized more than 100 companies in the last six years in industries including oil refining, tourism and real estate, with 29 of them being 100 percent foreign owned.

The government anticipates tourist arrivals to reach ten million within eleven years and major contracts for hotels to accommodate them are increasingly underway. With decades of sanctions, Libya’s five UNESCO World Heritage sites have laid hidden yet magnificently preserved. The ruins are some of the largest outside of Rome, and cities throughout the country exhibit remnants of Phoenician, Greek, Ottoman and Byzantine conquests. Last night’s celebrations offered at least a glimpse into the country’s rich 14,000 year history.

Contact: - Bushra Hamwi - Rebecca Farquhar - Luiza Carter - Jordana Tasker - +218-917171294 Or celebratelibya@greybeirut.com

For access to full media materials, visit www.celebratelibyapress.com. This site will be updated with new materials and images throughout the week’s events

Source: Celebrate Libya

Contact: Bushra Hamwi, Rebecca Farquhar, Luiza Carter, Jordana Tasker - +218-917171294, Or celebratelibya at greybeirut.com