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| Doors finally open at new Wembley | Doors finally open at new Wembley |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The doors at the new Wembley Stadium have opened for the first time for a special community event. | The doors at the new Wembley Stadium have opened for the first time for a special community event. |
| Up to 60,000 Brent residents tested turnstiles and escalators as part of the safety certificate application process for May's FA Cup final. | Up to 60,000 Brent residents tested turnstiles and escalators as part of the safety certificate application process for May's FA Cup final. |
| A football session took place on the pitch and visitors were asked to collectively flush the stadium toilets. | |
| The £757m ground was due to reopen in August 2005 but hold-ups led to music and sports events being cancelled. | |
| Members of England fan club Englandfans were also invited to Saturday's "community day", which featured music and dancers from the local area. | Members of England fan club Englandfans were also invited to Saturday's "community day", which featured music and dancers from the local area. |
| Wembley Stadium managing director Alex Horne said it was the first step towards gaining the safety certificate needed to host the FA Cup final. | Wembley Stadium managing director Alex Horne said it was the first step towards gaining the safety certificate needed to host the FA Cup final. |
| "We still remain on track to host the 2007 FA Cup final," he said. | "We still remain on track to host the 2007 FA Cup final," he said. |
| I want the Cup Final here in May Brian Barwick, FA Chief Executive | |
| "But the FA will only announce the 2007 Cup final at Wembley once the stadium has been granted its general safety certificate." | "But the FA will only announce the 2007 Cup final at Wembley once the stadium has been granted its general safety certificate." |
| The FA's Chief Executive, Brian Barwick, said he felt really proud. | |
| "This is a moment we've been waiting for - a stadium with people in it and with footballers on the pitch," he said. | |
| "Today and next Saturday are about us learning about the stadium, learning about how to give people a good time here and making sure they're safe and secure. | |
| Visitors were dwarfed by the 90,000-seater capacity | Visitors were dwarfed by the 90,000-seater capacity |
| "And when we've got all that in order and Brent Council are happy with that, we'll get our safety certificate. I want the Cup Final here in May." | |
| The old Wembley, which opened in 1923, closed in 2000 and was demolished in 2002. | The old Wembley, which opened in 1923, closed in 2000 and was demolished in 2002. |
| Alistair Lenczner, an associate partner with the stadium's architects, Foster and Partners, said the old arena's famous twin towers were still part of the building. | Alistair Lenczner, an associate partner with the stadium's architects, Foster and Partners, said the old arena's famous twin towers were still part of the building. |
| He said: "When they were crushed, some of the crush material was actually used to go into the concrete, which went into the foundations of the new stadium, so the ghost of the old twin towers is there. | He said: "When they were crushed, some of the crush material was actually used to go into the concrete, which went into the foundations of the new stadium, so the ghost of the old twin towers is there. |
| "But I think the optimism of the new arch is what the new stadium is all about." | "But I think the optimism of the new arch is what the new stadium is all about." |
| The Rolling Stones, Take That, Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams were forced to switch venues as the stadium missed its planned re-opening date, while last year's FA Cup final was relocated to Cardiff. | The Rolling Stones, Take That, Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams were forced to switch venues as the stadium missed its planned re-opening date, while last year's FA Cup final was relocated to Cardiff. |
| An under-21s game between England and Italy will be the first competitive football match to be played at the rebuilt stadium on 24 March. | An under-21s game between England and Italy will be the first competitive football match to be played at the rebuilt stadium on 24 March. |
| George Michael will be the first performer to play there on 9 June. | George Michael will be the first performer to play there on 9 June. |