Demystifying official opening day

a colourful ceremony attended by thousands of Zimbabweans.
So often we have heard of many events and conferences being officially opened towards the end of an event.
This is usually after a number of important deliberations have been done and sometimes resolutions and decision already made.
But why officially open an event when it is about to end? Does the official opening have something to do with first day of an event?  
The official opening of the Harare Agricultural Show usually reflects on the key themes and priorities of a meeting or event and is attended by someone who often gives the keynote address.
By its nature the keynote address is meant to give or sum up the direction of discussion and hence is critical in the holding of the event.
So how then can an address given towards the end of the event become the official opening? This is what boggles the mind of many people.
Ms Catherine Maina of Ruwa said she is used to attending the official opening on Friday when there are lots of activities, but has never bothered to question the naming of the day.
“This is the day when there is a lot of entertainment for the kids. I am not aware why this is termed the official opening day instead of the closing ceremony.
“As you can see the number visitors swell on that day. People have an opportunity to see President Mugabe and family and other important officials in the country,” she said.
A farmer exhibiting at the just ended show, Mr Caleb Chingono of Murehwa, said the official opening was just a day when the President comes to view their stands and address the people.
“It’s the day for President Mugabe and other dignitaries to attend the show. We have always attended it but are unaware what it means.
“I think it can be moved from Friday to any other day as long as it is during the show week,” Mr Chingono said.
ZAS public relations manager Ms Heather Madombwe said the choice of an official opening day for the show depended on the availability of the Head of State, President Mugabe, who is the patron of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Society.
It also has to accommodate the  head of state chosen to open the show.
“We do not just look for any day of the week but a day that can accommodate both our patron and visiting head of state to attend the proceedings.
“As you might be aware, it is usually very difficult to find time when two presidents are free to attend the opening function hence the change of day.
“Availability of both the Lesotho premier and President Mugabe affected the show week like this year. The society was then forced to move the show week from August 25 to August 30, 2012 to the week of August 17 to August 26, 2012.
“The official opening was this year slated for Saturday August 25, 2012 but had to be rescheduled to accommodate the busy schedules of our patron and the visiting Lesotho Prime Minister Thabane,” she said.
Ms Madombwe said the official opening day also depended on the completion of the adjudicating process on the different stands at the exhibition.
“This is because ZAS also uses the opening as the day on which winners in the different categories are awarded prizes.
“So the first few days of the event are for judging of stands, public visits and information dissemination. Only when we have the name of the winners can we have an officially opening. This makes Friday or Saturday the best day.
“Fridays and Saturdays are also advantageous to us in that these are the days when most of our dignitaries are free to attend the annual exhibition,” Ms Madombwe.
She said the show did not record its biggest number of attendance on Friday but on Saturday.
“Total attendance of Friday was below 30 000 and over 45 000 on Saturday, the last day of the exhibition,” she said.
An event co-ordinator who only identified herself as Primrose, said the official opening day was not just any other day but was chosen to ensure that it gives the maximum publicity to the event.
“The day is not necessarily placed at the close or opening of an event but is chosen to allow that all the important people are present.
“As a result we usually place the event a few days after opening day of the meeting or event.”    
According to Wikipedia, the official opening is meant to announce grand opening of a new business location, conference or event and can also be referred to as the grand opening.
It argues that it differs from just opening the doors on the first day or commencement of an event as the grand or official opening is more of a celebration event.
It is thus not just the first day of the show.
The grand opening signifies a planned special event or ceremony. Often, a party atmosphere is promoted by use of food, music, prizes, balloons, giveaways, festive signs, searchlights or a fireworks display.
In many instances, an organisation goes for a “soft opening” or little promotion on the first day of the event and reserves the official opening on a chosen day. This is particularly somewhere near the close of the event or after the business has been operating for a time when things have become settled.
Once the institution is organised and ready to receive more clients, it will then sponsor a grand opening event.
Wikipedia says some companies will use hanging banners, colourful posters, bright signs, post card mailings, newspaper articles or radio and television ads to attract as much attention as possible to this celebration.
“Generally, a grand opening is regarded as a promotional way for an organisation to state that it is completely ready to serve its clients proficiently and professionally,” writes the search engine.
In some countries it is mandatory to have soft openings.
For example in countries like the United Kingdom, a new stadium or arena is required to successfully host at least three events at reduced capacity before it can be authorised to hold events at its full stated capacity.
The official opening can then be held as a seal of fitness of the arena to provide a stated function?
When all is said and done, the official opening of the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show was therefore a culmination of days of hard work by organisers and exhibitors.