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| Superdome reopens in New Orleans | Superdome reopens in New Orleans |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The stadium that symbolised New Orleans' suffering during Hurricane Katrina last year has re-opened. | The stadium that symbolised New Orleans' suffering during Hurricane Katrina last year has re-opened. |
| More than 30,000 people took refuge at the Louisiana Superdome after the storm struck. They lived in squalor for four days until they were evacuated. | More than 30,000 people took refuge at the Louisiana Superdome after the storm struck. They lived in squalor for four days until they were evacuated. |
| But a major refurbishment programme has allowed the venue to host Monday's sell-out game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. | But a major refurbishment programme has allowed the venue to host Monday's sell-out game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. |
| Rock bands, including U2 and Green Day, performed in a star-studded ceremony. | Rock bands, including U2 and Green Day, performed in a star-studded ceremony. |
| The Superdome was wrecked by Hurricane Katrina last August, its roof peeled off by the wind. | The Superdome was wrecked by Hurricane Katrina last August, its roof peeled off by the wind. |
| However, the BBC's James Westhead in New Orleans says it was the images of chaos inside, with people stranded for days with no water or food, that made it a symbol of New Orleans' misery. | However, the BBC's James Westhead in New Orleans says it was the images of chaos inside, with people stranded for days with no water or food, that made it a symbol of New Orleans' misery. |
| This is exactly what the city needs Clara DonateSaints season ticket holder href="/1/hi/in_pictures/5381060.stm" class="">In pictures: Dome reopens href="/sport1/hi/other_sports/american_football/5378840.stm" class="">Saints' crushing victory Many thought that afterwards, the building would be condemned. But instead, $180m was spent on a huge renovation effort. | |
| Although some question spending so much on a sports stadium, the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, described it as a vital symbol of recovery for the city and the state. | Although some question spending so much on a sports stadium, the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, described it as a vital symbol of recovery for the city and the state. |
| "This is exactly what the city needs," Saints season ticket holder Clara Donate - who lost her home and all her possessions to Katrina - told AP news agency before the game. | "This is exactly what the city needs," Saints season ticket holder Clara Donate - who lost her home and all her possessions to Katrina - told AP news agency before the game. |
| "We all need something else to think about." | "We all need something else to think about." |
| New Orleans went on to crush Atlanta 23-3. | New Orleans went on to crush Atlanta 23-3. |
| The Saints last played in the Superdome in a 2005 pre-season game, a few days before Katrina. | The Saints last played in the Superdome in a 2005 pre-season game, a few days before Katrina. |
| The team were forced to move their home games to other venues last season - including Louisiana State University and Giants Stadium in New York. | The team were forced to move their home games to other venues last season - including Louisiana State University and Giants Stadium in New York. |