The city of Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang Province, is bustling with activity as it marks the 30-day countdown to the Hangzhou Asian Games. This major multi-sport event, scheduled from September 23 to October 8, will be the third time China hosts the Asian Games, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.
Organizers recently announced that a total of 12,417 athletes from all 45 Asian countries and regions will compete in the Games. Ticket sales began on July 8, and high demand has been observed for events such as swimming and e-sports. Ticket prices range from 20 to 1,000 yuan ($2.75 to $137), with over 60% of tickets priced below 100 yuan.
Chen Weiqiang, executive secretary general of the Hangzhou Asian Games organizing committee, shared that the torch relay will commence on September 8 in Hangzhou and will tour the Zhejiang province until September 20. Additionally, Zhu Qinan, director of the Sports Department of the organizing committee, noted that adjustments have been made to the competition schedule based on athlete registrations, with the final race schedule to be released at the end of August.
The Hangzhou Asian Games will also feature the debut of popular emerging sports among the youth, such as break dance and e-sports. Additionally, Weiqi, a mind sport, will make a comeback after a 13-year hiatus since the Guangzhou Games in 2010. Other regional sports in Asia, like dragon boat racing, kurash, and sepak takraw, although not recognized as Olympic sports, will also be medal events at the Asian Games.
China, expected to send a delegation of over 900 athletes, is anticipated to dominate the podium once again. Since 1982, China has topped the medal table in each of the Asian Games it has participated in. Several Chinese national teams are preparing to defend their titles against challengers from other Asian sports powerhouses.
Japan and South Korea, China’s East Asian neighbors, are also considered favorites at the Asian Games, often finishing second and third on the medal table due to their excellence in swimming and archery, respectively. India is also expected to challenge China’s dominance in shooting, as efforts have been made to improve the country’s shooting squad capabilities.
In preparation for the event, designs of the victory ceremony components, including bouquets, trays, and podiums, were unveiled. The official theme song and music video were also released, and a commencement ceremony for the event’s volunteers was held at Zhejiang University. A total of 37,600 volunteers are expected to serve during the event, out of 317,000 applications received since the global recruitment drive initiated in May 2021.
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 crafted using Dongyang wood carving, a national-level intangible cultural heritage, will also be given to award-winning athletes.
The design of the medal trays draws inspiration from the gentle ripples of West Lake’s waters, while the podium features the color scheme of the “Rainbow Orchid” and is adorned with an “Ink and Watercolor White” hue. A modular design approach is employed for the podium to accommodate various sports, embodying the spirit of sustainability.
The official theme song, “The Love We Share,” performed by renowned Chinese singer Sun Nan, portrays iconic landscapes from across Asia, showcasing the unity of people from diverse backgrounds and regions.
READ MORE: