Cricket, dragon boating and Weiqi: the 2010 Guangzhou Asian
Games promises to be a sports fiesta with a difference following
the announcement of the event line-up.
According to organizers, the 2010 Asian Games will be the
largest of its kind in history featuring 42 sports, three more than
that in Doha last year.
The new sports will be cricket, dragon boats, roller sports and
modern pentathlon. Besides that, weiqi (go chess) will be listed as
a discipline of chess, and soft tennis will be a discipline of
tennis.
According to officials from the organizing committee,
preparatory work in Guangzhou is well underway.
"The 16th Asian Games aims to promote exchanges and cooperation
in the fields of sports, economy and culture among Asian countries
and regions and enhance their mutual trust and friendship," said
Liu Jiangnan, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Asian Games
Organizing Committee (GAGOC).
"Moreover, the Games will serve as a window to fully showcase
the achievements made in the reform and opening-up and the economic
and social construction of China, Guangdong and Guangzhou."
The missions of the Games, which will attract athletes from 45
countries and regions in Asia, are to carry forward the Olympic
spirit and promote the Olympic Movement in Asia, to enhance
solidarity, friendship and exchange among Asian countries and
regions and to contribute to the establishment of a harmonious
Asia. The vision of the Games is "Thrilling Games, Harmonious
Asia," Liu announced at a press conference in Beijing.
According to Liu, 87 venues will be put into use in the Games,
including 56 competition venues and 31 training venues. The Asian
Games Village will begin operation in August 2010.
"Among all the venues, 11 will be newly-built ones and the
financial support will be mainly provided by the government," Liu
said. "The best sports facilities in the surrounding cities, such
as Foshan and Dongguan, will also be used to ensure the success of
the Games."
There has been progress in other aspects of the preparatory
work, Liu said.
The drafting of the Master Plan of the 16th Asian Games has been
completed. The locations of the Asian Games Village, Media Village
and Main Media Center and other supportive facilities have been
decided. The Mascot design solicitation campaign for the Games has
been launched and the Asian Games Host City Action Plan has been
developed.
(China Daily July 3, 2007)