The 19th Asian Games opened in Hangzho

On the evening of September 23rd, the 19th Asian Games grandly opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. This is President Xi Jinping waving to everyone from the podium. Photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xueren

Xinhua News Agency, Hangzhou, September 23 (Xinhua) - Qianjiang is welcoming the grand event and working together to create a better future. The 19th Asian Games grandly opened on the evening of the 23rd in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and announced the opening of the Asian Games.

Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, as well as leaders and distinguished guests from all over Asia, attended the opening ceremony.

Under the night, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, located on the banks of the Qiantang River, is illuminated with dazzling lights and dazzling colors. This building, shaped like a large lotus, witnessed the third lighting of the Asian Games flame in China.

Before the opening ceremony, people from all over Zhejiang brought cultural and artistic performances with local characteristics, creating a very lively atmosphere on site.

At 19:58, amidst the music of "Peace - Community with a Shared Future", President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, along with acting President Singh of the Asian Olympic Council and President Bach of the International Olympic Committee, stepped onto the podium and waved to the audience. There was a long and enthusiastic applause throughout the room.

On September 23rd, it coincided with the "Autumn Equinox" in the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar. At 20:00 sharp, the welcoming performance of "Water Runs Autumn Glory" began amidst the passionate drumming of 19 "Water Jade Cong". With the countdown number in the center of the venue, the entire audience shouted in unison. On the ground screen, imprints such as jade cong, jade bird, and divine emblem emerge one by one with the ancient city ruins, from green to golden, showcasing the natural trajectory of spring plowing and autumn harvest, fully showcasing the light of Liangzhu civilization and the beauty of golden harvest.

The venue presents a magnificent scene of beautiful rivers and mountains, with a red silk stretched out, accompanied by the heartfelt melody of "I Love You China". Eight honor guards walked into the venue with firm steps, guarding the national flag of the People's Republic of China. Everyone stood up and sang the national anthem of the People's Republic of China. The five star red flag is slowly rising and fluttering in the wind.

At 20:09, the athlete's entry ceremony began. Following the lively music 'Our Asia', sports delegations from 45 countries and regions entered one after another and were warmly welcomed by the entire audience. The passionate melody of 'Singing for the Motherland' rang out, and the host Chinese delegation finally entered the venue. President Xi stood up and waved his hand, and the audience was filled with cheers and applause. The Chinese delegation consists of 1329 people, including 886 participating athletes, who will compete in 38 major events and 407 minor events at this Asian Games.

Wang Hao, Chairman of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and Governor of Zhejiang Province, expressed the warmest welcome on behalf of the organizing committee and the 65 million people of Zhejiang to athletes from various countries and regions in Asia in his speech. He wished them good results, dreams, friendship, and happiness, making the wonderful Hangzhou Asian Games journey unforgettable for life.

During his speech, Gao Zhidan, Chairman of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, stated that, under the warm care and strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government, a brilliant and colorful Asian Games event is about to begin. Let us promote the Olympic spirit, strive to create new records in Asian sports, and work together to create a new picture of an Asian community with a shared future.

In his speech, the Acting President of the Asian Olympic Council, Singh, paid the most sincere respects to the Chinese government, the Chinese Olympic Committee, the Zhejiang Provincial Government, the Hangzhou Municipal Government, the Asian Organizing Committee, Hangzhou citizens, and all those involved in the preparation work. He praised the excellent preparation work for the Hangzhou Asian Games and believed that everyone participating in the Hangzhou Asian Games will gain a lifetime unforgettable and beautiful memory.

At 21:16, the opening ceremony ushered in an exciting moment. President Xi Jinping announces the opening of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou! Suddenly, the entire audience was boiling, with the "digital fireworks" blooming brightly, and the applause and cheers from the audience continued for a long time.

Eight outstanding Chinese athletes and coach representatives entered the stadium holding the flag of the Asian Olympic Council. Accompanied by the anthem of the Asian Olympic Council, the flag of the Asian Olympic Council slowly rises and flutters high along with the five-star red flag.

Athletes Zheng Siwei and Sun Yingsha, as well as referees Yang Zhongmin and Gao Jiaqi, respectively, represent all participating athletes and referees in the oath.

The lights gradually dimmed, and on the large screen, a short film titled "Meeting Hangzhou" caught the attention of the audience: The emblem of the Hangzhou Asian Games travels through time, passing between people of different eras, and sending out a warm invitation to the world.

The artistic performance "Rising Asia" kicked off, with the performance divided into three parts: upper, middle, and lower. In the previous part of "National Style and Elegant Rhyme", the young people of the national style use the ground as a painting and dance while stepping on the ink. The women of the Song style stand tall and graceful, graceful and agile, with cruise ships passing by and light shadows shining. The Gongchen Bridge, built with a panoramic three-dimensional image, leaps above the Grand Canal, showcasing the profound scene of Qiantang's prosperity and Jiangnan's charm. In the middle part of "The Tide in Qiantang", actors flying in the air dance with the tide, "the trendsetter" rides the sail to join the tide, and the mascot "Jiangnan Memory" breaks through the water and jumps, sparking a dynamic wave of sports. In the next installment of "Walking Hand in Hand," the "egret spirit" roams the sea of stars. With the melodious singing and the clear singing of Yue Opera, hundreds of college students hold glowing golden osmanthus to light up the long "Golden Gui River". Landmark buildings from various countries and regions in Asia are presented together, forming a beautiful and shared Asian painting scroll. The exciting and diverse performances deeply moved the audience on site.

At 21:53, the main torch lighting ceremony began. The Asian Games torch, collected from the Liangzhu Ancient City site, has been transmitted throughout Zhejiang since September 8th and ultimately arrived at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

In the stadium, six torchbearers, including Ye Shiwen, Fan Zhendong, Xu Mengtao, Shi Zhiyong, Li Lingwei, and Wang Shun, ran the relay and won warm applause from the audience. At the same time, on the large screen at the scene, a "digital torchbearer" composed of over 100 million people participating in the digital torch relay rushed forward with the torch held high. The main torch tower of the "Qianjiang Tide" slowly opened. Amidst the attention of the crowd, the last torchbearer Wang Shun and the "digital torchbearer" ignited the main torch tower of the "Qianjiang Tide", and the Asian Games flame was blazing brightly.

"We all have one home, our hearts blend, and our love adds up. "" Billions of proud voices come together in one sentence, you and I live in Asia together. "... The whole venue sang the theme song of the Hangzhou Asian Games," Together with Love, "and the entire stadium turned into a joyful ocean.

The international distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony were King Sihamoni of Cambodia,  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma, Crown Prince Mishal of Kuwait, Prime Minister Prachanda of Nepal, Prime Minister Chanana of East Timor, Prime Minister Han Deshu of South Korea, Speaker of the Malaysian House of Commons Zohari and his wife Noleni, as well as representatives of the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Suffrey of Qatar, Prince Ja'an of Qatar, and Prince Faisal of Jordan Representatives of the Thai royal family, including Princess Siriwanwali.

Wang Yi, Li Ganjie, He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong, and Shen Yiqin attended the opening ceremony.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, He Yicheng, and former Chairman of the Kuomintang, Hong Xiuzhu, attended the opening ceremony.

Officials from the Asian Olympic Council and others attended the opening ceremony.