The 2009 Summer Universiade officially raised its curtain Wednesday with a spectacular opening ceremony.

The biggest sporting event ever held in Serbia has attracted about 9,000 student athletes, coaches and officials from 143 countries and regions.

Almost since Belgrade secured the Summer Universiade in Innsbruck in 2005, the doubters have been suggesting that the country will not be able to manage the games efficiently, that the venues won't be ready. But indications are that things are going largely to plan and everything is set for a successful event.

The caldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the 25th universiade in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, July 1, 2009.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration and head of the Universiade organizing committee Bozidar Djelic said that it was not easy to make preparations for holding such a huge event during an ongoing economic crisis but FISU was very cooperative concerning the problems faced by Belgrade.

He said that a sum of 7 million euros has been saved by moving the opening ceremony from the Red Star Stadium to the Belgrade Arena, a change made in agreement with FISU.

After a succession of Serbian athletes carried the games torch around Belgrade Arena, it was volleyball player Borislav Petkovic who helped light the cauldron outside the stadium.

The flag of International University Sports Federation (FISU) is raised during the opening ceremony of the 25th universiade in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, July 1, 2009.

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