The 30-day countdown to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, East China, has officially begun. As the anticipation for this major sporting event builds, the organizers have revealed the design details of the victory ceremony components, which include the bouquets, trays, and podiums. Additionally, the official theme song and its accompanying music video have been released, and a special commencement ceremony for the event’s volunteers was conducted.
The volunteer commencement ceremony took place at Zhejiang University, attended by 1,800 representatives out of a total of 37,600 volunteers who are expected to serve during the event. The recruitment drive for volunteers for the Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games started in May 2021 and received a staggering 317,000 applications. Zhao Hongyan, a student volunteer representative, expressed confidence in the preparedness of the volunteers, stating, “We’re fully prepared to execute each process, step, and detail in our volunteer service to contribute to this grand event,” in a statement to the Xinhua News Agency.
The majority of the volunteers are from 46 universities located within Zhejiang Province. Moreover, specialists in sports, less-commonly spoken languages, and medical experts have been sourced to provide essential assistance during the event. Additionally, approximately 400 volunteers from other provinces have also joined the effort, as reported by Xinhua.
The victory ceremony components carry significant cultural symbolism. The floral bouquets for the awards ceremonies, named “Fruits of Triumph,” include rice ears and lotus pods, symbolizing harvest and achievements in Chinese culture, along with the iconic “Rainbow Purple” representing the event’s core color palette. Decorative vases inspired by Huagu, a vessel from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), and the Dongyang wood carving, a national-level intangible cultural heritage, are also part of the ceremony. The design of the vases, featuring undulating water patterns, reflects the rhythm of Zhejiang’s landscape and will serve as keepsakes for the award-winning athletes.
Furthermore, the design of the medal trays is inspired by the gentle ripples of the waters of West Lake in the breeze. The podium’s outer part features the color scheme of the “Rainbow Orchid,” while the stage itself is adorned with an “Ink and Watercolor White” hue. A modular design approach has been employed for the podium to accommodate various sports, reflecting the spirit of sustainability.
Lastly, the official theme song of the Games, “The Love We Share,” performed by renowned Chinese artist Sun Nan, has been endorsed. The music video of the song showcases iconic landscapes from across Asia, highlighting the unity of people from diverse backgrounds and regions.
READ MORE: