With the theme of "Harmonious Host City, Joyful Indoor Games",
the second Asian Indoor Games was officially opened in Macao on
Friday night.
Edmund Ho Har Wah, Chief executive of the Macao Special
Administrative Region of China, declared open the games at the
opening ceremony.
A total of 3,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are set
to take part in the second version of the Games which will run from
October 26 to November 3 in Macao.
"Our Asia is a diverse continent where the sun never sets," said
Manuel Silverio, chairman of the 2007 Macao Asian Indoor Games
Organizing Committee (MAIGOC), on the ceremony.
"But for all the great distances and differences between us,
Asia finds a common language, and that language is sports."
"For participants and spectators alike, athletic competition in
the true amateur spirit displays what is best in all of us,
allowing us to see beyond our differences and enjoy our shared
humanity in the spirit of solidarity and friendship," said
Manuel.
The second Asian Games feature most of the non-Olympic sports
including five-person soccer, e-sports, Kabaddi, Bowling etc.
The three-hour-long opening ceremony was visually striking with
brilliant multi-media methods, fireworks and dazzling ideas.
Sun Wukong, Monkey King, are illustrating on the stage the vivid
image of the Asian Games as a symbol of vigor, wisdom and courage,
and mascot Mei Mei is there leading the audience to the journey of
the joyful sports events.
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and
Director of the General Administration of Sport of China Liu Peng
attended the opening ceremony.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2007)