After two years in the planning and heartbreak of seeing New York State's premier amateur athletic competition cancelled last year, the opening ceremony for the Buffalo 2010 Empire State Games at the University at Buffalo North Campus unfolded Wednesday with great fanfare.

An estimated 15,000 people were present to cheer on the more than 3,000 participating athletes from six regional districts across the state as they paraded into the football stadium at UB.

"We've got a terrific evening planned for you on this beautiful, Buffalo summer night," said Buffalo Bills great Steve Tasker, who served as master of ceremonies for the event.

"We've got stellar athletes, special guests here onstage [and] a concert by [rock band] Third Eye Blind, and a killer fireworks show to top it off. Are you ready to get started?" Tasker said.

The three-day athletic competition gets under way Thursday and concludes Saturday evening.

Minutes before the gates to the stadium opened for the opening ceremonies, Douglas Ames, Western Region director for the Empire State Games, could barely contain his excitement.

"This is outstanding for the Buffalo region. I can't begin to say how great it is for our community to have a showcase like this, especially after not having it last year," Ames said. "I'm ecstatic."

The first Empire State Games were held at Syracuse University in 1978, with 4,500 athletes participating. After 32 years, the Western Region leads the gold medal count with 208. The Long Island Region trails with 162 gold medals.

About two hours before the opening ceremonies, a carnival like atmosphere prevailed in a nearby parking lot off the stadium with corporate sponsors for the event handing out free sports towels and bottles of chocolate milk. Others sold wares and held auctions as two juggling clowns -- one on stilts hovering above the crowd and another wheeling a unicycle -- milled about the crowd.

Joe Sirianni of Saratoga Springs, a native of Lewiston expressed his joy in returning to the region to watch his daughter, Julia, 17, compete on the Adirondack women's scholastic lacrosse team.

"It's great to be home," Sirianni said. "It's fun to be back."

Sirianni, a graduate of Lewiston-Porter High School, moved away from the region 25 years ago and was thrilled to have his daughter come back and play in his hometown.

"It's neat because my parents can get to see that. They don't get to come out to Saratoga much to watch her play. So, to have her right in our backyard and have the venue at Niagara University, which is three miles from where I grew up is sort of neat for us," Sirianni said.

As early arrivals to the opening ceremonies queued up to buy hotdogs, pizza and soft drinks or score freebies from the sponsors, local artist Blair Rusin of Amherst spent two hours painting a collage meant to represent the games on a mural size canvas.

"I came to help out and represent Buffalo and UB. My brother used to play here, and I just felt like it would be a nice little entertainment for the day," Rusin said.

Dressed in blue and gold, members of the Adirondack men's hockey team pierced through the crowd before the opening ceremonies. For Tyler Lingel, 17 of Saratoga and Eric Augspurgur, also 17, of Niskayuna, N.Y., it was their first trip to Western New York. The 2010 games also mark Tyler's first time competing in the Empire State Games.

"It's kind of cool, because when I was younger, I knew older kids who were playing in it. So I've been looking forward to playing for a couple of years," Tyler said.

Eric competed in the Empire State Games two years ago.

"It was fun the last time and, obviously, it will be fun again," he said.

About 20 minutes before showtime, Katy Klarowski of Buffalo waited on a long line to enter the stadium. She was accompanied by her husband, Jerry, and their three children, Amber, 16; Patrick, 13; and Kaitlyn, 5.

"I'm not bothered by the long line, but I am concerned about the clap of thunder I thought I just heard," Katy Klarowski said.

She need not have worried, as the weather remained cooperative. Inside the stadium, UB's award-winning, male a cappella group, "Buffalo Chips," opened the night's entertainment, which was shortly followed by the procession of athletes from the Adirondack, Central, Hudson Valley, Long Island, New York City and Western regions into the stadium. Judy Reuter, widow of the late Lou Reuter, who for 15 years was Western Region director, helped lead the Western Regional team into the stadium.

"I'm very proud and happy," Judy Reuter said afterward. It's a wonderful thing for the children, the athletes, and the coaches and the volunteers." Judy Reuter.

After the spectacular fireworks display, Fred Smith, Empire State Games director, judged the night a success.

"It was a wonderful evening. The weather held off for us, the crowd was enthusiastic - we had a great crowd. I couldn't be any happier about the kickoff Buffalo has given to the return of the Empire State Games," said Smith.

hmcneil@buffnews.comnull