during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the National Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Francois Nel
The first European Games ignited with the Opening Ceremony in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Friday night, as Lady Gaga covered John Lennon‘s “Imagine” on a flower-draped piano, among other highlights.
The two-hour Opening Ceremony can be viewed on the European Games’ YouTube channel, with Lady Gaga’s performance at the 1:20:20 mark and the cauldron lighting at 2:01.
The European Games run through June 28. Star athletes include Russian gymnasts Viktoria Komova and Aliya Mustafina, the 2012 Olympic all-around silver and bronze medalists.
One of the two mascots is a pomegranate, a fruit featured in the Opening Ceremony.
Here are highlights from the Opening Ceremony via Getty Images:
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: An artist performs during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A giant pomegranate releases balloons during the opening ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Turkish Presidency Press Office/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A giant pomegranate releases balloons during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A giant Pomegranate representing abundance, rebirth, love and good luck splits open to release its seeds during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the Olympic Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images for BEGOC)
Robert Prezioso
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A giant pomegranate releases balloons during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Singer Lady Gaga performs during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the National Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images for BEGOC)
Robert Prezioso
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Fireworks explode over the Heydar Aliyev Arena during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Fireworks explode over the Heydar Aliyev Arena during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Fireworks explode over the Heydar Aliyev Arena during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Final torchbearer Ilham Zakiyev is accompanied by Said Guliyev as he carries the flame into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the Olympic Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images for BEGOC)
Paul Gilham
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A ring of fire ignites representing a total solar eclipse ignites during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the Olympic Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images for BEGOC)
Francois Nel
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A ring of fire ignites representing a total solar eclipse ignites during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the Olympic Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images for BEGOC)
Francois Nel
during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at the National Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Francois Nel
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: The Baku 2015 European Games cauldron is lit during the Opening Ceremony for the Baku 2015 European Games at Baku’s Boulevard on June 12, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images for BEGOC)
David Ramos
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: A dancer performs during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Flagbearers Namig Adullayev of Azerbaijan, Thomas Bimis of Greece, Niccolo Campriani of Italy, Lucie Decosse of France, Krisztina Fazekas Zur of Hungary, Katie Taylor of Ireland, Servet Tazegul of Turkey and Elena Zamolodchikova of Russa carry the flag of the EOC during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Dancers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty Images
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 12: Artists perform during the Opening Ceremony of the Baku 2015 First European Games at Heydar Aliyev Arena on June 12, 2015 in Azerbaijans capital Baku. (Photo by Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
