![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.
All the teams in the courtyard.]()
All the teams at the courtyard of Halmstad Castle.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.
Germany first team though the castle gates.]()
The teams marshed in, in French order. First team: Germany.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.
Dirk Schwede, OCR.]()
Official CISM representative at the WMLC16, Col. Dirk Schwede.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.
Carl Fredrik Graf, Mayor of Halmstad.]()
Carl Fredrik Graf, the mayor of Halmstad.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.]()
The Halland Home Guard Music Corps.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.
Team Sweden.]()
Team Sweden.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
![Opening Ceremony of 48th World Military Lifesaving Championships at Halmstad Castle.
Rear Admiral Jens Nykvist.]()
Rear Admiral Jens Nykvist declared the games open.
Photo: Christian Lövgren/Försvarsmakten
The opening ceremony of the World Military Lifesaving Championship was held in the courtyard of the 400 year old Halmstad Castle. The eleven teams marched into the courtyard to the sound of The Halland Home Guard Music Corps.
Rear Admiral Jens Nykvist welcomed everyone before the Swedish Flag was raised and the Swedish National anthem was played by the Halland Home Guard Music Corps.
OCR Colonel Dirk Schwede then held an opening speech where he talked about, amongst other things, lifesaving as a sport and its history as a sport.
The Mayor of Halmstad, Carl Fredrik Graf was the next speaker. He talked about the importance of the garrison to the town and that Halmstad was well known for its sandy beaches. Halmstad is the home of Sweden´s only lifesaving school. It has been here since 1960, so there is a long tradition of lifesaving in Halmstad.
Then, Rear Admiral Jens Nykvist declared the championships open and the teams marched out through the castle gates. Let the games begin!