Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to inaugurate the Asian Games during a ceremony in Hangzhou, commencing a two-week sporting event that boasts a larger number of athletes than the Olympics. China‘s now abandoned zero-Covid policy led to the postponement of the event for a year and it will feature over 12,000 competitors representing 45 nations and territories, participating in 40 different sports.
Dignitaries such as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is making his first visit to China since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, will join Xi during the opening ceremony. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait, and Nepal will also be present at Hangzhou’s 80,000-capacity Olympic stadium, often referred to as “the Big Lotus.” Security in the area has been stringent, with road closures and police presence.
Spectators underwent thorough security checks, and staff confiscated food and umbrellas, although the earlier light rain had subsided. A military helicopter is also present in the area to ensure security.
Experts describe this event as China’s post-pandemic exercise in soft power. However, a dispute between New Delhi and Beijing has already marred it, with India’s sports minister canceling his trip to the city. This decision followed the denial of accreditation and entry to three female martial arts fighters from the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is largely claimed by Beijing, although China denied these allegations.
President Xi Calls for Peace and Cooperation
In a pre-ceremony speech, President Xi encouraged Asian nations to use sports as a means to promote peace and foster good neighborly relations while achieving mutual benefits and win-win results.
China, which suffered significant setbacks to its sporting and business reputation during the pandemic aims to dominate the medal table, with Japan and South Korea vying for second place. North Korea is participating after three years of isolation from international sports.
The Games will feature Olympic staples such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics, and cycling, with the inclusion of eSports as a medal event, seen as a step toward potential inclusion in the Olympics. Additionally, nine sports, including boxing, breakdancing, and tennis, will serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The event will also showcase regional specialties such as dragon boat racing, the Chinese martial art wushu, and kabaddi. Some renowned athletes, including India’s javelin champion Neeraj Chopra and Qatari high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, will add star power.
The Olympic Council of Asia’s honorary life vice-president, Wei Jizhong, emphasized the inclusivity of the Games, aiming to provide opportunities for a wide range of athletes. The Games will take place at 54 venues, including 14 newly constructed ones, spanning from Hangzhou to cities as distant as Wenzhou, 300 kilometers (180 miles) to the south.
Hangzhou, known as China’s tech industry hub, with a population of 12 million and located just an hour by bullet train from Shanghai, will showcase technological innovations during the Games, including driverless buses, robot dogs, and facial recognition technology.
