The 19th Asian Games, which were postponed from 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officially opened on Saturday, September 23, 2023, in Hangzhou, China, with a dazzling and eco-friendly opening ceremony.
Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the games open at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, which was filled with 80,000 spectators and thousands of performers.
The opening ceremony showcased China’s rich culture and history, as well as its technological achievements and environmental awareness.
The theme of the ceremony was “Harmonious Asia, Green Hangzhou”, reflecting the organizers’ vision of hosting a sustainable and low-carbon games.
The ceremony featured three-D animations, virtual reality, holograms, drones, and other high-tech elements, creating stunning visual effects and immersive experiences for the audience.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the lighting of the cauldron, which was done by a virtual torchbearer who ran through the air above the stadium. The torchbearer was a digital representation of Li Ning, a former gymnast and Olympic champion who lit the cauldron at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The cauldron itself was shaped like a lotus flower, symbolizing purity and harmony.
The ceremony also paid tribute to the heroes and victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the athletes and volunteers who overcame various challenges to participate in the games.
A special segment featured a choir of children singing “You Raise Me Up” in different languages, accompanied by images of medical workers, frontline staff, and ordinary people who contributed to the fight against the virus.
The opening ceremony concluded with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the night sky over Hangzhou. However, unlike traditional fireworks, these were made of electronic flash and sound effects, creating a safer and greener alternative.
The Hangzhou Asian Games will run from September 23 to October 8, 2023, with competitions beginning as early as September 19. There will be 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 482 events in 55 competition venues, and 5 million tickets available for the 600 sports sessions and ceremonies.
Competitions in archery, artistic swimming, boxing, breaking, hockey, modern pentathlon, sailing, tennis, and water polo will also serve as Olympic qualifiers, with Paris 2024 quota spots available in those nine sports.
Some of the world’s biggest stars in sports will be in action in Hangzhou, such as Neeraj Chopra and Mutaz Barshim in athletics, Pan Zhanle and Hwang Sun-woo in swimming, Ikee Rikako and Watanabe Ippei in swimming and diving, Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Nur Dhabitah Sabri in diving, EJ Obiena in pole vaulting, and many more.
In addition, cricket fans can look forward to the potential clash between India and Pakistan in both the men’s and women’s finals.
China is represented by 886 athletes in 407 events across 38 sports.
(With inputs from Xinhua news agency)
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