Euro 2020 opens with a bang! Andrea Bocelli performs a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma

Euro 2020 opens with a bang! Andrea Bocelli performs a stirring rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’, fireworks light up the Rome sky and Italian legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta deliver the match ball before kick off against Turkey

Euro 2020 was opened in emphatic style after a stunning opening ceremony which included plenty of artistic flair before Italy faced Turkey in the opening game.

The highlight was a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma, one of football’s most famous songs, by Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli. 

But the song used as the BBC’s theme music for the 1990 World Cup in Italy came amid a magnificent fireworks display to light up the night sky, and incredible noise made by the few fans who had been permitted inside the Stadio Olimpico.

Euro 2020 was opened in emphatic style after a stunning opening ceremony in Rome

The ceremony took place before Italy faced Turkey in the first game of the tournament

The ceremony took place before Italy faced Turkey in the first game of the tournament

The highlight was a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma by Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli

The highlight was a stirring rendition of Nessun Dorma by Italian opera tenor Andrea Bocelli

Giant coloured footballs as well as drummers suspended from ropes from the roof of the stadium were also on display

Giant coloured footballs as well as drummers suspended from ropes from the roof of the stadium were also on display

Giant multicoloured footballs as well as drummers suspended from ropes from the roof of the stadium were also involved in the opening acts, as the flags of the 24 nations competing at Euro 2020 were unfurled to a rock soundtrack. 

There was also a performance of the official UEFA song We Are The People by the likes of U2 stars Bono and The Edge and DJ Martin Garrix appearing via a video link. 

The opening ceremony began with Italy legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta – who are distinguished figures from Roma and Lazio, who play their club football at the stadium – holding aloft a ball in the middle of the pitch.

The Italy duo – who won the 2006 World Cup – then delivered the ball which Roberto Mancini’s side used to kick proceedings off against the Turks in Rome. 

Drummers suspended from ropes from the roof of the stadium were also on display

Drummers suspended from ropes from the roof of the stadium were also on display

There was also a performance of the official UEFA song We Are The People

There was also a performance of the official UEFA song We Are The People

The opening ceremony began with Italy legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta holding a ball aloft

The opening ceremony began with Italy legends Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta holding a ball aloft

But the ceremony no doubt belonged to Bocelli, who also performed the song at Leicester’s Premier League title party in 2016, in an emotional performance in front of a vibrant, albeit sparse, crowd.

Bocelli sang as fireworks went off in the background of his performance and a female dancer attached to large helium balloons was floating above.

The Stadio Olimpico was almost at the maximum capacity of 16,000 – around 25 per cent full – allowed in Italy for the opening match between the home side and Senol Gunes’ men.

Fans were mixed throughout the stadium, but most of the Turkey fans were in the northern end of the stadium, while Italy fans were sat mainly at the opposite side of the ground. 

However, the reduction in attendances is due to the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic across Europe, with most of the matches at the tournament – being played in 11 cities –  set to follow a similar pattern. 

A female dancer attached to large helium balloons was floating above as Bocelli performed

A female dancer attached to large helium balloons was floating above as Bocelli performed

The Stadio Olimpico was almost at the maximum capacity of 16,000 allowed for the opening match

The Stadio Olimpico was almost at the maximum capacity of 16,000 allowed for the opening match