To begin a speech, one can use a variety of phrases, such as:
- Hello, ladies and gentlemen.
- Good morning /good afternoon/good evening
- I appreciate your presence today.
- Welcome to [name of program].
- Being present here today is a privilege.
- It’s a pleasure to talk with each of you.
- I would like to [share/speak about/discuss] as [event name] starts.
- I feel honored to be speaking to such a prestigious group of people.
- I’d like to begin by expressing my gratitude to [organizers/sponsors/host].
- I am appreciative of the chance I have today to speak to you all.
These expressions can be modified and adjusted to fit the specific context and audience of the speech.