On the Scene -- Asian Games Competition Begins; Opening Ceremony

(ATR) Twenty-eight gold medals are to be awarded on the first day of competition of the Asian Games.

Medals will come in Olympic sports, regional favorites, and a few newcomers.

The martial art of Wushu will take place at Nansha Gymnasium. This Chinese specialty was introduced to the Asian Games in Beijing 20 years ago. It begins Saturday and will see the first of the Games’ 476 gold medals awarded at around 11am.

The Chinese ladies team will feature in the opening game at the purpose build ground in the University Town, and some think they may have a medal chance.

Tomorrow will also see the start of three of the five new sports featured in Guangzhou, with much interest in the debut of cricket.

Spectators who prefer less frenetic action, board games Chinese Chess, weiqi and xiangqi also open tomorrow.

For athletics fans Nov. 24 has long been inked into the diary. Two years after his Beijing heartache, Liu Xiang will hope to be lining up for the 110m hurdles final as he chases a third Asian Games gold medal after wins in 2002 in Colombo, Sri Lanka and Doha, four years ago.

Another sport star certain to attract fervent support is badminton star Lin Dan, who will hope to crowned men’s singles champion on Nov. 21. He won gold in Beijing, two years after claiming silver in Doha.

Sepaktakraw is best described as kick volleyball. Its origins are in Malaysia but it has become one of the most popular sports across Southeast Asia. There will be 11 days of competition held in the newly built Haizhu Stadium.

By the end of the weekend the DanceSport competition will have been completed with ten golds up for grabs.

Another local favorite to make its first appearance is Dragon Boat racing. Three days of competition over 250, 500 and 1000m will take place on the Dragon Boat Lake at Zengcheng, about 50 miles from the city center.

The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will see golf and Rugby Sevens make their debut and they will both be played in Guangzhou.

Golf will be played from Nov. 17-20 at the Dragon Lake Golf Course, while rugby takes place in the University Town Main Stadium, with finals on Nov. 23.

Opening Ceremony Spectacle

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao officially opened the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou tonight, the largest Asian Games in history.

The honor of lighting the Asian Games flame fell to China’s diving hero from the Beijing Olympics, He Chong. The 23-year-old, a native of Guangdong Province, ignited the Chinese firecrackers that flew skywards to light the cauldron to the delight of the near 30,000 crowd, which included IOC President Jacque Rogge.

The spectacular opening ceremony broke new ground by being held outside of a main stadium. The Pearl River, which flows through the heart of the city, was both central to the event and a backdrop for the ceremony.

Thousands of athletes and officials from the 45 competing countries travelled to the show on ornately decorated boats before joining the party on Haixinsha Island.

A cast of thousands provided two hours of entertainment, with the central themes of water and flowers, both key aspects of the city’s story.

Among the star names on show were pianist Lang Lang, who accompanied film star Zhang Ziyi as she sang.

The fact that the ceremony was a prelude to two weeks of sporting excitement was highlighted by President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, which is responsible for organizing the Games.

"You are a part of history, right here, right now," he told the athletes and officials.

"Please show us your best performance, and show us the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play, friendship and respect to your fellow athletes and officials."

Games organizers responded to concerns about ticketing arrangements by releasing emergency tickets for sale. Although there will still be no same-day sales, the public can now buy tickets for events in the following two days.

ATR coverage of the Guangzhou Asian Games

is Proudly Presented by PyeongChang 2018

With reporting in Guangzhou from Matt Horn.