Exclusive Boffo Opening for Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games

Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games

The 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) had a magnificent opening to its Games with a lavish, multi-media presentation Opening Ceremony which set the tone for competition which begins today.

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

As the Opening Ceremony began, 45 boats representing the varied countries and regions of the Olympic Council of Asia, traversed up the ancient Pearl River with athletes and team officials on board, said a message received by 'Pakistan Times' [Daily e-Newspaper] from Jeff Ruffolo Executive Advisor - Chief Communications Officer of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou of Saturday.

Games organizers presented a lavish multi-media cultural presentation of the ancient Silk Road, complete with a massive fireworks display.

Directed by Chen Weiya, assistant director of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the ceremony was held outside Guangzhou’s main stadium for the first time in Asian Games history - in the Pearl River on the Haixinsha Island – passing thousands of spectators and officials.

Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, declared the Games open.A record number of nearly10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will participate in 476 gold medal events in 42 sports. Cricket, dancesport, roller sports, dragon boat and chess, including weiqi and xiangqi, are newly added sports at the Asian Games, which will also feature those unique to the continent such as kabaddi and sepaktaraw.

Guangzhou is the second Chinese city to host an Asian Games following Beijing in 1990.

The 16th Asian Games

The 16th Asian Games is approved and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia and will be held in “Flower City” of Guangzhou from November 12 - 27, 2010.

More than 14,000 athletes and team officials from 45 countries and regions will compete in 42 sports. More than 9,300 accredited and non-accredited worldwide media are anticipated to cover the Games with more than three million spectators expected to attend.