Haka helps kick off a dazzling opening for World Cup of unity

THE Women's World Cup kicked off today with a spectacular opening ceremony and message of unity.

- Anthony France

The tournament, which is being staged in New Zealand and Australia, has been labelled the biggest women's sports event ever.

More than 1.3 million tickets have been sold in advance and organisers hope for a global TV audience of two billion. European champions England, who begin their campaign against Haiti in Brisbane on Saturday, are among the teams tipped for the title. Captain Millie Bright says the Lionesses have their best-ever chance of winning the World Cup. However, the launch ceremony was overshadowed by a shooting in the New Zealand city of Auckland, hours before the first game began, which left three people dead and six others injured.

Organisers decided to press ahead with the opening ceremony with its theme of unity after police said the shooting was not being treated as an act of terrorism or related to the football showpiece.

The brief but dazzling display was rich with Maori and First Nations traditions and imagery, showcasing New Zealand and Australian heritage and landscapes. It included a haka as well as a "unity dance" with performers clad in the colours of all 32 competing nations.

The 10-minute show climaxed with pop stars Benee and Mallrat singing the official song Do It Again.