(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Japanese entries in the water skiing competition Domu Narita (L) and Mero Narita (R), a brother and sister combination, take the athletes' pledge on Aug. 16 during the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in Akita Prefecture.

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Local Japanese men disguised as ogres, called Namahage, and young women known as ''Komachimusume'' lead a parade of flags and placards of events for the sixth World Games in the opening ceremony Aug. 16 at Yabase Stadium in Akita, Akita Prefecture.

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Foreign athletes participating in the sixth World Games in the northern Japanese city of Akita on Aug. 16 respond to spectators during the opening ceremony at Yabase Stadium. In the background, local people demonstrate their skill at balancing Kanto, a long bamboo pole with horizontal ribs from which paper lanterns hang.

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Flags and placards of around 90 participating countries and regions are paraded Aug. 16 in the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in the northern Japanese city of Akita. Some 2,200 athletes will take part in 31 official and demonstration sports at the games, which end Aug. 26.

(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(4) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Japanese entries in the water skiing competition Domu Narita (L) and Mero Narita (R), a brother and sister combination, take the athletes' pledge on Aug. 16 during the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in Akita Prefecture.

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(1)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Flags and placards of around 90 participating countries and regions are paraded Aug. 16 in the opening ceremony of the sixth World Games at Yabase Stadium in the northern Japanese city of Akita. Some 2,200 athletes will take part in 31 official and demonstration sports at the games, which end Aug. 26.

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

(2)World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Local Japanese men disguised as ogres, called Namahage, and young women known as ''Komachimusume'' lead a parade of flags and placards of events for the sixth World Games in the opening ceremony Aug. 16 at Yabase Stadium in Akita, Akita Prefecture.

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

(3) World Games begin with opening ceremony

AKITA, Japan - Foreign athletes participating in the sixth World Games in the northern Japanese city of Akita on Aug. 16 respond to spectators during the opening ceremony at Yabase Stadium. In the background, local people demonstrate their skill at balancing Kanto, a long bamboo pole with horizontal ribs from which paper lanterns hang.