http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2007-10-27 MAIGOC
45 NOCs compete in joy
The 2nd Asian Indoor Games was announced officially curtained up by Chief Executive Edmund Ho yesterday evening at the Macao Stadium. The opening ceremony presents a program rundown under the theme of Harmonious Host City, Joyful Indoor Games” which was realized by performance sections of “Glittery Asia”, “Monkey King’s Journey”, “Bowling Symphony”, “Extreme Passion”, “The Asian Beats”, ”Rook v.s. Rook“, “Golden Lotus in Blossom”, "Shall We Dance”, ”Auspicious Leaps and Bounds” and the last scene “Winner”, a perfect example to show the features of the host city and the essence of the Asian Indoor Games.
The sacred flame was passed on by athletes representing 5 different districts, namely Sajjad Moradi (West Asia, Islamic Republic of Iran), Shavkatbek Muhitdinov (Central Asia, Uzbekistan), Pankat Arjan Advani (South Asia, India), Jeerasak Tassorn (Southeast Asia, Thailand), Ni Zhenhua (East Asia, China), before Sou Sok Leng (Macau) took the torch and passed it to Chu Chin Tou (Macau), who lighted the cauldron.
There are 45 Asian countries and regions attending this edition of Asian Indoor Games, contributing more than 3,000 athletes who shall compete for glories in 17 sports and 3 demonstration sports. The 2nd Asian Indoor Games, another large-scale multi-sporting meet after the 4th East Asian Games in 2005 and the 1st Lusofonia Games in 2006, stands out of the three no matter in terms of the numbers of the participating countries and regions, the participating athletes and the competition sports.
On the welcome remark, Manuel Silvério expressed that despite the long distance and difference among the Asian countries, “sport” is the common language. The Asian Games events have added more meanings to it, while the 2nd Asian Indoor Games has already enhanced the unity of the region.
OCA Vice-president Timothy Fok, who acts as the proxy of OCA President HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah at the opening ceremony, expressed his warm welcome on behalf of OCA to all participants to the beautiful host city and extended his pleasure to join the people in Asia to celebrate the opening of the games. Taking the opportunity, OCA also shows appreciation to the Macao people and the SAR government for their effort that help make possible the young people from around Asia to participate in the grand event in Macao. Timothy believes the Games will mark an important page in the history of Asian Indoor Games, for which, he pays salute to the Macao Olympic Committee and MAIGOC for their effort that make this games so successful.
The wonderful evening was presented by a total of 5000 performers from more than 10 local associations, including the Song of Lotus by mainland singer Tang Can and performance by popular singer from Hong Kong Joey Yung and hot band from Taiwan Fahrenheit.
