Incheon Asian Games Opens In Spectacular Fashion

From Zuriati Zulmi INCHEON (South Korea), Sept 20 (Bernama) -- The 17th edition of the Asian Games opened in spectacular fashion before 60,000 spectators here Friday. This is the third time South Korea are hosting the Asian Games after 1986 (Seoul) and 2002 (Busan). The 16-day Incheon Asian Games features 36 sports with more than 13,000 athletes from 45 nations competing. The opening ceremony at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium began at 6pm. It involved a joint effort of hundreds of officials, volunteers and 2,700 performers. The ceremony carrying the theme "Dream of 4.5 billion people, One Asia," started with traditional Korean farmers' music and a dance titled "Pungmul Play of Bupyeong." Incheon Yoo Jeong-bok then made his welcoming remarks followed by cultural performances with the common theme of Asia's past, present and future converging into one. Directed by Jang Jin, a renowned South Korean film maker, the principal section of the cultural performance depicted the future history of Asia to be united in Incheon. The scene began with a poem titled "The Song of the Asiad" by South Korea's respected poet Ko Un. Children then entered the stadium using metal sticks to push rolling metal hoops, a memorable performance showcased at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. South Korean soprano singer Jo Sumi and a choir of 919 Incheon residents then sang The Song of the Asiad and "Arirang", an iconic Korean folk song. Besides the colourful, entertaining and informative performances, another highlight was the appearance of the popular K-pop groups EXO and JYJ and also rapper Psy, whose music video "Gangnam Style" catapulted him to global stardom in 2012. The entrance order of the contingents was set in accordance with the Korean alphabet, or Hangul. North Korea and Japan marched back to back, as well as China and Taiwan, with Nepal leading and hosts South Korea last in line. China is sending a giant 1,328-member delegation, including 899 athletes. China collected a record 416 medals, including 199 gold, at the 2010 Guangzhou Asiad. It topped the Asian Games medal standings eight times in a row. Malaysia are banking on their strong contingent comprising 421 athletes and officials. The athletes will be competing in 25 of the 36 sports events on offer. In the march-past the Malaysian contingent was led by chef-de-mission Daniyal Balagopal Abdullah with national world number one squash queen Nicol David the "Jalur Gemilang" (national flag) bearer. Members of the Malaysian contingent were clad in the 'Malaysian Hero' 'baju kurung' and scarf for women athletes and 'Baju Melayu' with 'sampin' for men which were designed by noted Malaysian designer, Melinda Looi. Following remarks by the organising committee chairman Kim Young-soo and President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, South Korean President Park Geun-hye declared the 17th Asian Games open. The ceremony then continued with the lighting of the flame involving active and retired athletes who carried the Asian Games torch towards the cauldron. The first one to do the legwork was baseball slugger Lee Seung-yuop, 38, of the domestic club Samsung Lions, who holds the single-season record in the top flight Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO) with 56 home runs from his monumental 2003 season. Lee handed the torch over to LPGA Tour star Park In-bee, the five-time major champion and the 2013 LPGA Player of the Year. The next was Lee Kyou-hyuk, who recently retired from speed skating after competing in six Winter Olympics, a South Korean record. The fourth bearer was basketball star Park Chan-sook, who helped South Korea win bronze at the 1984 Summer Olympics, followed by tennis star Lee Hyung-taik, the only South Korean to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam event. Lee handed it over to two junior athletes and the identity of the final torch bearer to light the cauldron which was kept under wraps till Friday night was then revealed. She was actress Lee Young-ae who was accompanied by two children. Before the lighting of the torch, eight former athletes carried the Asiad flag, including former weightlifter Jang Mi-ran and ex-table tennis star Hyun Jung-hwa, both Olympic gold medallists. --BERNAMA