THE ASIAN Games opened with a spectacular water-themed gala ceremony on Friday (November 12), culminating years of planning for an event that is set to reinforce China’s regional sporting dominance.
The extravaganza heralds the most ambitious Asiad so far with some 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories vying for gold in 42 sports.
The Games run until November 27, with hosts China heavily favoured to top the medal table, and South Korea and Japan battling for second place.
“Remember, you are part of history right here, right now,” Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah told the athletes at the opening ceremony.
“Please show us your best performance, and show us the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play, friendship and respect to your fellow athletes and officials.”
Security forces mounted a sweeping operation to isolate the fenced-off venue with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attending.
In a change to standard procedure the ceremony, beamed to a television of audience of billions, was held on an island in the Pearl River rather than a stadium, with the giant Guangzhou Tower as a background.
Backed by a stunning light show, it was themed around the local Lingnan culture, incorporating folk dance, drum music as well as water skiing and jet skiing and a giant ship called “Harmony”.
Film starlet Zhang Ziyi and world-renowned pianist Lang Lang performed together in one of the highlights of a show that celebrated Guangzhou’s history as China’s gateway to the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
The scale of the preparations for the ceremony drew parallels with the Beijing Olympics opener in 2008, which was highly acclaimed, but Guangzhou officials were eager to set the two apart.
“It’s like one is coffee and the other is tea,” ceremony director Chen Weiya, the assistant chief for the Beijing curtain raiser, said.
Just as Beijing did before the 2008 Olympics, Guangzhou has poured billions of dollars into getting this sprawling southern metropolis ready.
While the city does not have the glamour of Beijing and Shanghai, officials here are hoping the Games will help transform it into one of Asia’s top destinations.
In preparation, it has embarked on several huge infrastructure projects – a new rail station, a gleaming trade centre, subway lines, housing projects, highways and bridges.
It has also constructed or renovated 70 sporting facilities.
Security is a major focus, with more than 100,000 police officers on duty to keep it safe, along with hundreds of thousands of security guards and volunteers.
“As the Guangzhou Asian Games will have the most ever athletes, officials and reporters in the history of the Asian Games, the security work has been a great challenge,” a statement from the Games security panel said.
“The security panel has adopted effective and necessary measures to ensure a safe Games. We have done our best to provide a safe and favorable environment for athletes, coaches, officials and audiences.”
While the two Koreas marched together at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 Doha Asian Games in a sign of reconciliation, they failed to repeat the feat here.
Relations between the two neighbours remain tense after the sinking of South Korean warship, the Cheonan, in March that claimed 46 lives.
All the athletes arrive by a convoy of pleasure boats, including those from war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as Iran and the Palestinian territories.
The competition proper kicks off on Saturday (November 13) when 28 gold medals will be won.
