2010 Asian Games opening ceremony

The 2010 Asian Games opening ceremony officially began at 8:00pm China Standard Time (UTC+8) on November 12, 2010. The ceremony took place along the Pearl River on Haixinsha Island, mark it the first time in history that the ceremony was held outside the stadium. In front of 30,000 spectators,[1] it lasted four hours, featured about 6,000 performers,[2] with at least 40,000 of fireworks.[3] The ceremony was choreographed by Chen Weiya (陈维亚), who was assistant director to Zhang Yimou in 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and filmed by Guangzhou Asian Games Broadcasting (GAB).[4]

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2010 Asian Games
Firework displays at the Canton Tower.

Sequence of events

Pre-ceremonial events

Prior to the opening ceremony, athletes and officials from 45 National Olympic Committees (NOC) were paraded by boat around the Pearl River with distance of 9.3 km to showcase the Cantonese culture.[5]

Welcoming ceremony

After the countdown, the opening began with firework displays at Canton Tower and around Haixinsha Island. Afterwards eight honour guards of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) received the flag of the People's Republic of China from two children and raised it up, accompanied by the national anthem March of the Volunteers.[6]

Artistic section
Zhang Ziyi, sang "Light" with Lang Lang performed the lyrics.

The artistic section, dubbed "Sailing" (Chinese: 启航; pinyin: Qǐ háng) began at 8:06pm. The beginning saw a drop of water shown on eight giant retractable screens followed by a boy sat in a giant leaf slowly descending from the sky. By this time the centre stage was flooded with water and the men on horseback rode onto the arena.[7]

The next portion "Water of the Earth" (Chinese: 大地之水; pinyin: Dàdì zhī shuǐ) saw dancers perform and form a series of flowers. Initially five smaller flowers were formed before eventually the performers came together to form one big flower bloom. Children dancers then came out with lanterns followed by neon light dancers.[8]

Afterwards the segment "The Ship in the Ocean" (Chinese: 海洋之舟; pinyin: Hǎiyáng zhī zhōu) saw two main dancers perform in the centre stage along with others in the background. A giant expedition boat then entered the stage with dancers acting as waves in an intense storm. The boat measured 28.8 metres long, 8 metres wide and 18 metres high.[9] The boat then reached its destination.

In the penultimate segment, which was known as "Sail of the White Cloud" (Chinese: 白云之帆; pinyin: Báiyún zhī fān), Chinese pianist Lang Lang (郎朗) opened with song "Light" (Chinese: 时光; pinyin: Shíguāng). The song was sung by Zhang Ziyi (章子怡)[10] and written by lyricist Albert Leung and composer Li Hai-ying (李海鹰). 180 dancers twirled in the air and converged on the water.[9][11] Watercraft riders then created a series of water displays. High wire performers then put up a series of acts in front of the giant screens to form waves, seesaws, smiley faces, birds and other shapes.

Before going into the final segment, a one-minute segment known as the "Green Minute" showed people from each district of Guangzhou bring pots of plants to display, displaying Guangzhou as a green city.[12]

The last segment known as "Invitation from the City of Flowers" (Chinese: 花城之邀; pinyin: Huāchéng zhī yāo) started with a stage full of drummers.[13] A group of hostesses joined the performance. China's Wei Wei (韦唯), Tang Jing (谭晶), Hong Kong's Joey Yung (Chinese: 容祖儿; pinyin: Róngzǔ'er; Jyutping: Jung4 Zou2Ji4; Cantonese Yale: Yùhng Jóuyìh), Taiwan's David Tao (Chinese: 陶喆; pinyin: Táozhé) and South Korea's Kim Hyun Joong (Chinese: 金贤重; pinyin: Jīnxiánzhòng, Korean: 김현중) performed the games' official song "Sunshine Again" (Chinese: 日出东方; pinyin: Rì chū dōngfāng).[14][15] The cauldron was then reveal when it emerged from the ground as a giant flame cauldron tower. Fireworks then lit up the area, followed by watercraft and boat exhibitions.

Parade of Nations
Baseball player Yoon Kyung-shin as South Korea flagbearer.
Wen Jiabao officially declared the Games opened at the ceremony.

All athletes and officials from 44 National Olympic Committees and Kuwait entered the site in English alphabetical order as per Olympic Council of Asia protocol with the host country entering last. Due to the NOC suspension, Kuwaiti athletes entered the site as the penultimate team under the Olympic flag with the banner "Athletes from Kuwait".[16][17] Each NOC was led by a national flagbearer. During the parade of the NOCs, a local song from each country was played when the country marched to the arena.[18][19]

Whilst most countries entered under their short names, a few entered under more formal or alternative names, sometimes due to political disputes. Taiwan (Republic of China) entered with the compromised name and flag of "Chinese Taipei" under T. Unlike last edition's opening ceremony, the two Korea's marched separately from each other. South Korea entered as "Korea" under K, while North Korea entered as "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (DPR Korea) under D.

Below is list of national flagbearer during the ceremony.[20][21]

Order Nation Chinese name Pinyin Flag bearer Sport
1  Afghanistan (AFG) 阿富汗 Āfùhàn
2  Bahrain (BRN) 巴林 Bālín
3  Bangladesh (BAN) 孟加拉国 Mèngjiālāguò
4  Bhutan (BHU) 不丹 Bùdān
5  Brunei (BRU) 文莱 Wénlái Lee Ying Shi[22] Wushu
6  Cambodia (CAM) 柬埔寨 Jiǎnpǔzhài Chhoeung Puthearim[23] Taekwondo
7  North Korea (PRK) 朝鲜 Cháoxiǎn
8  Hong Kong (HKG) 中国香港 Zhōngguò Xiānggǎng Yip Pui Yin[24] Badminton
9  India (IND) 印度 Yìndù Gagan Narang[25] Shooting
10  Indonesia (INA) 印度尼西亚 Yìndùníxīyà Ade Candra Rachmawan Beach volleyball
11  Iran (IRI) 伊朗 Yīlǎng Samad Nikkhah Bahrami[26] Basketball
12  Iraq (IRQ) 伊拉克 Yīlākè Haider Nawzad[27] Rowing
13  Japan (JPN) 日本 Rìběn Reiko Shiota[28] Badminton
14  Jordan (JOR) 约旦 Yuēdàn
15  Kazakhstan (KAZ) 哈萨克斯坦 Hāsàkèsītǎn
16  South Korea (KOR) 韩国 Hánguò Yoon Kyung-shin[29] Handball
17  Kyrgyzstan 吉尔吉斯斯坦 Jíěrjísīsītǎn
18  Laos (LAO) 老挝 Lǎowō
19  Lebanon (LIB) 黎巴嫩 Líbānèn
20  Macau (MAC) 中国澳门 Zhōngguò Àomén Au Ieong Sin Ieng[30] Synchronized swimming
21  Malaysia (MAS) 马来西亚 Mǎláixīyà Koo Kien Keat[31] Badminton
22  Maldives (MDV) 马尔代夫 Mǎěrdàifū
23  Mongolia (MGL) 蒙古 Měnggǔ
24  Myanmar (MYA) 缅甸 Miǎndiàn
25  Nepal (NEP) 尼泊尔 Níbóěr
26  Oman (OMA) 阿曼 Āmàn
27  Pakistan (PAK) 巴基斯坦 Bājīsītǎn Zeeshan Ashraf[32] Field hockey
28  Palestine (PLE) 巴勒斯坦 Bālèsītǎn
29  Philippines (PHI) 菲律宾 Fēilǜbīn Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski[33] Equestrian
30  Qatar (QAT) 卡塔尔 Kǎtǎěr Ali Al-Rumaihi[34] Equestrian
31  Saudi Arabia (KSA) 沙特 Shātè
32  Singapore (SIN) 新加坡 Xīnjiāpō Jasmine Yeong-Nathan[35] Ten-pin bowling
33  Sri Lanka (SRI) 斯里兰卡 Sīlǐ Lánkǎ Mithun Perera Golf
34  Syria (SYR) 叙利亚 Xùlìyà
35  Chinese Taipei (TPE) 中华台北 Zhōnghuá Táiběi Lin Chih-sheng[36] Baseball
36  Tajikistan (TJK) 塔吉克斯坦 Tǎjíkèsītǎn
37  Thailand (THA) 泰国 Tàiguò Danai Udomchoke Tennis
38  East Timor (TLS) 东帝汶 Dōngdìwèn
39  Turkmenistan (TKM) 土库曼斯坦 Tǔkùmànsītǎn
40  United Arab Emirates (UAE) 阿联酋 Āliánqiú
41  Uzbekistan (UZB) 乌兹别克斯坦 Wūzībiékèsītǎn
42  Vietnam (VIE) 越南 Yuènán Ngô Văn Kiều Volleyball
43  Yemen (YEM) 也门 Yěmén
44  Athletes from Kuwait (IOC) 科威特运动员 Kēwēitè Yùn dóng yuán
45  China (CHN) 中国 Zhōngguò Jin Ziwei[37] Rowing

Speeches
Diver He Chong lit the main flame.

A few people gave welcoming speech, they were:

  1. Huang Huahua – Executive President of Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC), Governor of Guangdong
  2. Liu Peng (刘鹏) – President of GAGOC, President of Chinese Olympic Committee (COC)
  3. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah – President of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)

Afterwards, Premier of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao declared the Games to be officially open, making him the first and as of 2018 only non-head of state to open the Asian Games. It was followed was a large scale of fireworks erupt from the Canton Tower and Pearl River delta once again. Sun Nan and Mao Amin then performed the official theme song "Reunion" (Chinese: 重逢; pinyin: Chóngféng),[38] and flag of OCA was carried in by eight athletes.

The eight athletes who carried in the flag were:[39]

  1. Li Xiaopeng (李小鹏) – gymnast
  2. Yang Boyong (杨伯镛) – basketball coach
  3. Meng Guanliang (孟关良) – canoer
  4. Huang Jiangang (黄建刚) – wushu
  5. Wang Liping (王丽萍) – race walker
  6. Lu Yuansheng (陆元盛) – table tennis
  7. Gao Ling (高崚) – badminton player
  8. Jia Zhanbo (贾占波) – shooter

As flag of the OCA was raised, the official anthem of OCA was played. Fu Haifeng took the athlete's oath while gymnastics referee, Yan Ninan took the judge's oath.

Lighting ceremony

In the closing stages, dragon boat team leader Wu Guochong (吴国冲) carried the torch through the Pearl River into the stage. The torch was relayed by three athletes, before being passed to the final torchbearer. The three were:[40]

  1. Chen Yibing (陈一冰) – 2008 Olympic gold medalist gymnast
  2. Rong Zhixing (容志行) – ex-footballer
  3. Deng Yaping (邓亚萍) – Olympic gold medalist table tennis

The final torchbearer, Olympic gold medalist diver He Chong (何冲) was accompanied by two children, Xiong Yuxiang (熊钰翔) and daughter of director, Chen Jiayu (陈佳雨). The trio used the flame to light the fuse of a traditional Chinese firecraker that produced an explosion which ignited the cauldron tower directly above it.[41][42] Song Zuying (宋祖英) then performed the song "Smile" (Chinese: 微笑; pinyin: Wéixiào). Fireworks were set off in the air and around the arena to conclude the opening ceremony.[43][44]

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