2022 Asian Games opening ceremony

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2022 Asian Games
opening ceremony
Date23 September 2023;17 months ago (2023-09-23)
Time20:00 – 22:10 CST (UTC+8)
Location Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Coordinates 30°13′53.93″N120°13′26.96″E / 30.2316472°N 120.2241556°E / 30.2316472; 120.2241556
ThemeTides Surging in Asia
Filmed byIGBS on behalf of CMG

The 2022 Asian Games opening ceremony was held on 23 September 2023, at the Hangzhou Sports Park Stadium in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. The ceremony began at 8:00 PM China Standard Time (UTC+8) and finished at 10:15 PM local time, lasting two hours. [1]

Contents

Background

The 2022 Asian Games ceremony was choreographed by Sha Xiaolan (沙晓岚), who was one of the assistant directors to Zhang Yimou during the opening and closing ceremonies production unit.

The ceremony reutilised the World's largest LED Mesh Screen provided by Zhongrun Optoelectronics with an area equivalent to 9 IMAX giant screens. This screen was also used during the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic ceremonies. [2] It is highly transparent, light, waterproof and easy to install. Zhongrun Optoelectronics also provided the dance floor with anti-slip and high temperature resistance. Meanwhile, YES TECH delivered 2000sqm of LED displays and innovative solutions with their flagship MG7S series, the world’s first indoor-outdoor versatile and floor tile screen application. [3]

The opening ceremony, billed as a "green event", made heavy use of drone arts and electronic flashes did not feature any fireworks. [4] One segment also had a theme of "Water in Autumn Glow", a reference to Hangzhou's water resources and role as the terminus of the Grand Canal, it was marked the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Dance performances with a backdrop featuring city history was also present. [5]

President Xi Jinping officially opened the 2022 Asian Games. [6] Chinese Olympic Champion and swimmer Wang Shun lit the cauldron. [7]

The Flag and Anthem of China

The national flag of China was brought into the stadium by 8 Armed Police [8] personnel. A choir performed the "March of the Volunteers", the national anthem of the People's Republic of China. [9]

Proceedings

Parade of Nations

The 2022 Asian Games Parade of Nations was part of the opening ceremony. The national team from each of the 45 nations participating in the Asian Games paraded behind their national flag into the Olympic Stadium. The flag bearers were athletes of each national delegation chosen to represent the athletes, either by the National Olympic Committee or by the national team. As custom starting with the 2020 Summer Olympics, two flag bearers represented each nation.

OrderNationChinese name Pinyin Flag bearerSport
1Flag of Afghanistan (2004-2021).svg  Afghanistan  (AFG)阿富汗Āfùhàn
2Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain  (BRN)巴林Bālín
3Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh  (BAN)孟加拉国MèngjiālāguóNiaz Mohied, Sabina HattonChess, Football
4Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan  (BHU)不丹Bùdān
5Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei  (BRU)文莱WénláiMohammad Adi Salehin, Roslan Basma RahMartial arts
6Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia  (CAM)柬埔寨Jiǎnpǔzhài
7Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea  (PRK)
(DPR Korea)
朝鲜CháoxiǎnPark Myung-won, Bang Chul-miShooting, Boxing
8Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong  (HKG)
(Hong Kong, China)
中国香港Zhōngguó XiānggǎngYao Jincheng, Mo WanyingRugby, Martial arts
9Flag of India.svg  India  (IND)印度YìndùHarmanpreet Singh, Loverina BorgohainField Hockey, Boxing
10Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia  (INA)印度尼西亚YìndùníxīyàHernanda Zulfi, Nandhira MauriskhaVolleyball, Martial arts
11Flag of Iran.svg  Iran  (IRI)伊朗YīlǎngJawad, Froginahid KianiShooting, Taekwondo
12Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq  (IRQ)伊拉克Yīlākè
13Flag of Japan.svg  Japan  (JPN)日本RìběnAkito Shimizu, Misaki EmuraShooting, Fencing
14Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan  (JOR)约旦Yuēdàn
15Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)哈萨克斯坦HāsàkèsītǎnAslanbek Shymbergenov, Nadezhda DubovitskayaBoxing, Track and field
16Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea  (KOR)韩国HánguóGu Bon-gil, Kim Seo-youngFencing, Swimming
17Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait  (KUW)科威特Kēwēitè
18Flag of Kyrgyzstan (1992-2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan  (KGZ)吉尔吉斯斯坦Jíěrjísīsītǎn
19Flag of Laos.svg  Laos  (LAO)(Lao PDR)老挝Lǎowō
20Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon  (LIB)黎巴嫩Líbānèn
21Flag of Macau.svg  Macau  (MAC)(Macao, China)中国澳门Zhōngguó ÀoménZhou Wenhao and Zheng YonglinSwimming
22Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia  (MAS)马来西亚MǎláixīyàShah Firdaus, Sahrom Siva SangariBike, Squash
23Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives  (MDV)马尔代夫Mǎěrdàifū
24Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia  (MGL)蒙古Měnggǔ
25Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar  (MYA)缅甸Miǎndiàn
26Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal  (NEP)尼泊尔Níbóěr
27Flag of Oman.svg  Oman  (OMA)阿曼Āmàn
28Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan  (PAK)巴基斯坦Bājīsītǎn
29Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine  (PLE)巴勒斯坦Bālèsītǎn
30Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines  (PHI)菲律宾FēilǜbīnErnest John, Obinnama Gileen DidalTrack, Skateboard
31Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar  (QAT)卡塔尔Kǎtǎěr
32Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia  (KSA)沙特Shātè
33Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore  (SIN)新加坡XīnjiāpōAmita Berthier, Jowen LimFencing, Wushu
34Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka  (SRI)斯里兰卡Sīlǐ Lánkǎ
35Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg  Syria  (SYR)叙利亚Xùlìyà
36Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei  (TPE)中华台北Zhōnghuá TáiběiWang Guanhong, Luo JialingSwimming, Taekwondo
37Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan  (TJK)塔吉克斯坦Tǎjíkèsītǎn
38Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand  (THA)
泰国TàiguóWeerapon Jongjoho, Tanyaporn PrucksakornBoxer, Shooter
39Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste  (TLS)东帝汶Dōngdìwèn
40Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan  (TKM)土库曼斯坦Tǔkùmànsītǎn
41Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates  (UAE)阿联酋Āliánqiú
42Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan  (UZB)乌兹别克斯坦Wūzībiékèsītǎn
43Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam  (VIE)越南YuènánNguyen Thi Huong, Nguyen Huy HuangShooting, Swimming
44Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen  (YEM)也门Yěmén
45Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China  (CHN)中国ZhōngguóQin Haiyang, Yang LiweiSwimming, Basketball

Parade order

Countries entered in English alphabetical order, with Afghanistan entering first and the host country, China, entering last. [10] The song "Our Asia" which was the official song from 1990 Asian Games the Beijing was played during this segment. [7]

Certain countries entered under various combinations of short names and formal names. For example, South Korea entered under its formal name "Republic of Korea" under K in English, but its short name 韩国 in Chinese (rather than its formal name 大韩民国). The Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) entered as "Chinese Taipei" under T due to the 1979 Nagoya Resolution. China entered under its short name "China" (中国) in both languages.

The Sri Lanka rugby team was barred from competing under the designation "Sri Lanka" due to the suspension of Sri Lanka Rugby and instead competed under the designation "Independent Athlete Participating Under OCA Flag" (以亚奥理事会名义参赛的独立运动员). [11] The team opted out of the opening ceremony. [12] Sri Lankan athletes competing in other sports were unaffected.

Welcoming speeches

Speeches were made by the following:

Both Zhidan and Hao are also the Chairmen of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the People's Republic of China , announced the opening of this Asian Games, and then virtual fireworks were presented on television.

The OCA Flag

The flag bearers of the Olympic Council of Asia flag were:

The Oaths

Chinese badminton player Zheng Siwei from Zhejiang and table tennis player Sun Yingsha took the oath on behalf of all athletes. Chinese track and field referee Yang Zhongmin and shooting referee Gao Jiaqi took the oath on behalf of all judges and officials. All four took the oath in English.

Gala Performance: Tides Surging In Asia

Short film "Meeting in Hangzhou"

The ancestors of Liangzhu in 3300 BC, the citizens of Lin'an in 1202 AD, and the citizens of Hangzhou in 2023 AD staged a time-space dialogue between ancient and modern times, reflecting the rapid changes in Hangzhou.

Chapter One: "Timeless Grace"

Dancers dance on the ink scroll. Then the scenery in the venue changed, showing a scene of lakes and mountains, and traditional skills such as chess, calligraphy and painting were displayed on the side stage. The world cultural heritage Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is also on display.

Chapter Two: "Tidal Base of the Quintang River"

Make full use of 3D Wia technology, 3D projection and other high technologies to show the endless Qiantang tide and the charm of sports.

Chapter Three: "Together Towards the Future"

It displays the ecological beauty of contemporary "green water and green mountains" and the concept of Asian people walking hand in hand. Zhejiang traditional opera and Yue opera were also displayed in this session.

Lighting the Cauldron

Swimmer Wang Shun lit the main flame. Kazan 2015 - Wang Shun medley 200m semi.JPG
Swimmer Wang Shun lit the main flame.

The last six torchbearers of the opening ceremony were:

While the physical torch was being passed on in the venue, the giant "tide waver" representing the 105 million Asian Games Digital Torchbearers of this Asian Games crossed the Qiantang River, rushed to the stadium, and lit up one side of the venue with Wang Shun, the last torch bearer who lit the wave-shaped cauldron. The inspiration came from The main torch device of the Qiantang River tide lights the flame of this Asian Games.

The opening ceremony ended with the theme song "Together with Love Asia".

Officials and guests

Host country dignitaries

Foreign dignitaries

International Organizations

References

  1. Hangzhou Asian Games opening ceremony set for 120 minutes
  2. "Designated LED Supplier for the 19th Asian Games". ledzrun.net. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  3. "YES TECH Magic Stage Shines at the 19th Asian Games". yes-led.com. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Lots of dignitaries but no real fireworks — only electronic flash — as the Asian Games open". AP News. Associated Press. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Delayed 19th Asian Games kicks off in Hangzhou". KoreaJoongAng Daily. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Chinese President Xi declares 19th Asian Games open in Hangzhou-Xinhua". Xinhua. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Four unmissable moments at Asian Games opening ceremony-Xinhua". Xinhua. 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  8. "大国仪仗 杭州风采——杭州亚运国旗仪仗队总教练张中雷" (in Chinese). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  9. "Asian Games 2023 Opening Ceremony Highlights". Mint. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  10. Palshikar, Prathamesh (23 September 2023). "2002 Asian Games opening ceremony: Chinese technology, culture glow at Big Lotus". Olympics.com. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  11. "国家(地区)奥委会名单 | 杭州第19届亚运会". Archived from the original on 5 October 2023.
  12. "OCA rugby players opt out opening ceremony for crucial matches today". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Colombo. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  13. "HRH Princess' bid for Asian Games glory". Bangkok Post . Retrieved 29 September 2023.