Chinese President Xi Jinping officially opened the 19th Asian Games during a vibrant ceremony in Hangzhou, commencing a two-week sports event that features a larger number of athletes compared to the Olympics.
Over 12,000 athletes from 45 nations are participating in Asia’s biggest sporting event to compete in 40 sports. / Photo: AFP
The opening ceremony on Saturday “consists of 15 segments, which include the parade of athletes and the lighting of the cauldron. The opening day of the Hangzhou Asian Games aligns with the Autumn Equinox, one of China's 24 solar terms. It symbolizes harvest and reunion in the Chinese culture," state-run Global Times reported.
The Asian Games, which were supposed to take place last September but were postponed because of COVID-19, will run through Oct. 8. President Xi was greeted by wild cheers when he appeared, and fans were handed LED star lights, adding sparkle to the stands when the lights dimmed and eight well-polished soldiers arrived carrying the national flag above their heads.
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