China dazzles again, mesmerising ceremony kicks off Asiad

Fri, Nov 12 10 08:37 PM

S S Ramaswamy Guangzhou, Nov 12 (PTI) China pulled off another dazzling show within two years of the Beijing Olympics as it unveiled the 16th Asian Games with a spell-binding and unique opening ceremony which had water as the overwhelming theme. The skies over the southern city lit up with spectacular fireworks as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao declared the Games open amid thunderous cheers from a capacity crowd. The major part of the ceremony was held at Hai Xinsha, an island located on Pearl River, the third longest river in China which is the life-giver to the southern part of the world''s most populous nation. Games Organising Committee chief Liu Peng and Olympic Council of Asia chief Shaikh Al-Sabah delivered their opening speeches before Jiabao declared the Games open at the vibrant ceremony showcasing the seafaring heritage of this city. The ceremony set the stage for 14 days of competitions in which over 10,0000 athletes from 45 countries would vie for the top honours. The evening started with fireworks and the 37,000 spectators were up on their feet when 1320 artists from the city''s oldest kung fu school descended with giant LED screens in the backdrop. The mesmerisingly choreographed act had the artists performing breathtaking acrobatics while being several feet above the ground. The LED screens flashed the cityscapes and the artists formed formations to look like eagles flying through the sky. The ceremony was unique in more ways than one as it was not held in the main stadium of any multi-discipline sports spectacle as is the custom. The Hainixia island, which had an arena specifically built for the purpose, was the venue and it sat on a river that snakes through this sprawling city and at 2300 kms is the third longest in the country. With the performing area composed of a fixed stage that could insert and release water and which could be elevated in the water, the stage was set for an amazing display of colour and dazzle that took the spectators'' breath away in the 30,000-seater arena which was completed only two months ago. MORE PTI SSR MRM PM

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