19TH Asian Games, 2023 begins in Hangzhou, China in a colorful ceremony

The 19th edition of the 2023 Asian Games began in Hangzhou city of China today. The two-week extravaganza was declared open in a colorful ceremony by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Over 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories are taking part in 61 disciplines.

The impressive inauguration unfolded at the renowned Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, often referred to as the Big Lotus. Throughout the opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2023, a fusion of China’s rich cultural heritage and its contemporary dynamism was on full display. The performance seamlessly integrated artificial intelligence and eco-friendly technologies. The venue boasts an astonishing seating capacity of up to 80,000 spectators.

The opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 was a unique and spectacular event that blended elements of artificial intelligence, environmentally friendly technology, and Chinese cultural history. The ceremony was centered around the theme of “Tides Surging in Asia,” which symbolized the intermingling of China, Asia, and the world in the new era, as well as the unity, love, and friendship of the Asian people. The water element, represented by the surging tide of the Qiantang River, was a recurring motif throughout the ceremony. This theme was most prominently displayed in the stunning visuals that captured the country’s cultural heritage and romantic imagery through the blending of its thousands of years old civilization and modern technology.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the futuristic light show, which showcased China’s technological prowess. The lighting of the cauldron was also a technological marvel, with digital technology being used to create virtual torchbearers that jointly lighted the cauldron with their physical counterparts.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach was also among the dignitaries. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Nepal, among others, had all been expected to attend.

“Finally we can gather for the 19th Asian Games,” Raja Randhir Singh, acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia, told the crowd to more cheers.

“The one-year postponement was unprecedented in OCA history,” he added.

The theme of the ceremony was water and it also celebrated Hangzhou’s ancient history and landscape, while giving a nod to the city’s reputation as the unofficial home of China’s tech industry.

A “digital torch bearer” strode into the stadium and was projected onto a large screen behind the Games cauldron at the climax.

“I feel very happy and excited,” a 35-year-old woman spectator surnamed Zhang said.

“I feel it’s a great honour for the city.”

Jung-Woo Lee, sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh, told AFP the Games were “China’s post-pandemic soft-power exercise”.

China’s status as a sporting and business destination took a severe hit during the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and strict travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.

The event has been rocked by a row between New Delhi and China over three Indian martial arts fighters, with a trip to the city by India’s sports minister cancelled on Friday.

China denied Indian claims that the trio had been barred from entering the country.

– ‘Open to all’ –