Asian Games 2010
China has crossed the threshold into a fully fledged grounding for the Asian Games which is to be carried out by the country. Hosts China will be installing its largest delegation embracing 1,454 members, including 977 athletes, in the upcoming month’s Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou.
The 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, are scheduled to take place in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, 2010. Guangzhou is the second city in China to host the Games after Beijing in 1990. A total of 476 events in 42 sports will be contested by athletes, making it the largest event in history of the Games.
The opening ceremony will be held on November 12, 2010 on Haixinsha Island in the Pearl River. It will be directed by Chen Weiya, the assistant director of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Chen on an exclusive interview said that the ceremony “will surprise the world”.
Chinese athletes have pulsed up their energy to participate in 41 sports and 447 events to hang on to its top spot in the Asian Games commencing from November 12. The Asian Games feature 28 Olympic sports and 280 Olympic events.
He Wenna, gold medalist of Beijing Olympics Trampoline said, “As athletes, we will have the Olympic spirit and the Chinese sports spirit, sticking up for the honor of our country. We will obey the discipline of the Games and also the rules of anti-doping, having a clean event.”
Duan Shijie, chef-de-mission of the Chinese delegation and China’s vice sports minister said, “We want our athletes to show their fighting spirit and sportsmanship at the Asian Games and maintain our leading position in the rankings.”
“As the host, we will also ensure a clean team with no drug cases. We consider the Asian Games an important part of our preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games,” spokesperson has cited him saying.
Since the ninth Asian Games in 1982, China has always managed to pull up further in the medal rankings. At the last Asiad, in Doha four years ago, China claimed 165 gold medals, 88 silver and 63 bronze.
The Asian Games is expected to be one of the most expected sporting event considering the world class preparations. Besides the 28 Olympic sports, it also involves 14 non-Olympic sports, including wushu, cricket, rugby and chess.
Let’s keep our hands crossed to view the mind boggling preparations that are soon to reach the screens and sheets.
Tags: Asian Games, Asian Games 2010, China, Guangzhou, Haixinsha Island, Pearl River, Sports, XVI Asiad
