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With these emotionally charged words of encouragement that form part of the Incheon Asiad song based on a composition by South Korea’s intellectual poet Ko Un, the 17th Asian Games got off to a spectacular start with hundreds of performers casting a magical spell on the audience during a colourful opening ceremony last night. |
Held under the theme “Meet the bright future of Asia” the well-choreographed show encapsulated in 162 minutes Korean modern song and dance routines that have gained so much popularity the world over that they have become one the country’s biggest exports, generating billions of dollars for the economy.
Slick television plays and a thriving music industry inspired in no small measure by Western pop culture now entertain hundreds of millions of people in China, Japan, Latin America, Africa, the US and north-eastern India with the result that they constitute what is commonly referred to as the “Korean Wave”.
Unsurprisingly, several big shots from the entertainment industry figured in the opening ceremony, most notably Psy, who captured the world’s imagination with his “Gangnam Style” chartbuster that helped him achieve cult status.
Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General HE Sheikh Saoud
bin Abdulrahman al-Thani (left) with other dignitaries during the
opening ceremony.
“The 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 are not festivities only for the organizing city and country but for all Asians to enjoy together and understand each other in unity,” the opening ceremony’s executive producer Im Kwon-taek said earlier.
“The opening ceremony of the 17th Asian Games is designed to make you feel the warm hearts of Koreans while showing the open minds and whole-hearted acceptance the city of Incheon has offered so many people throughout history.
“The countdown is the voice of 4.5 billion Asians in the hope of being united as one. To become one Asia, Asians will make our voices heard until the day when we unite as one. By doing so, Incheon now lets the rest of world be aware of the start of our beautiful dream for the future where Asia becomes one.”
The concept of unity in diversity, and of entire continents or even the world becoming one wholesome entity where peace and harmony prevail is nothing new at multi-national events of this magnitude.
Fact is that it has been almost worked to death over the years. Realistically though, forget entire continents, even the prospect of democratic South Korea uniting with the Communist and isolationist North remains a bridge too far.
But the message nevertheless brought to the fore the quintessential goodness that sport can still claim to possess in these politically charged times dominated by strife in various parts of the world that could escalate into a catastrophic global conflict.
The ceremony began with a message by the mayor of Incheon, Yoo Jeongbok, which highlighted the same theme.
“Through this Ceremony prepared by the citizens of the Metropolitan City of Incheon, we would like to pass on the message of Incheon, Korea, to the 4.5 billion Asians so that we can become one family of Asia. Please, enjoy the great passion of Incheon and Korea expressed through the various performances in the Opening Ceremony of the 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014,” he said.
Scores of children carrying the cheongsachorong, a traditional Korean lantern used for festive occasions warmed the hearts of the spectators on a slightly cold night. Symbolically speaking, they were transforming themselves into cheongsachorongs, thus brightening the way ahead for the nearly 10,000 athletes taking part in the Asian Games.
Later the delegations of all the 45 nations filed past a host of dignitaries including South Korean President Park Guen-hye and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. Other leading politicians and top executives of the Olympic Council of Asia including its President Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah were also present on the occasion.
Many athletes couldn’t hide their joy of being part of the Games as they waved their national flags with enthusiasm – including a small bunch of Syrians who will no doubt be giving their best at the Games while at the same time casting a wary eye on their war-torn nation where death and destruction have reigned for almost four years now.
The Qatari contingent also displayed tremendous enthusiasm, as they smiled and waved their flags, with Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary-General HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani cheering them on in the stands.
Ace bowler Mubarak al-Muraikhi, who won a silver at the Busan Asian Games 12 years ago, carried the Qatari flag. Many members of the track and field, however, missed the ceremony as they were preparing for their events at a camp in Daegu, more than 200 kilometres away from Incheon.
The North Koreans kept their emotions bottled up, but many still managed a forced smile, while the Saudi Arabian delegation struck a sour note with not a single female in their squad.
The 17th Asian Games will have a packed schedule over the next 16 days with 36 sports offering a whopping 439 gold medals.
However, fears have been expressed that many of the competitions will be held before sparse crowds. Less than 25% of the tickets have been sold so far although organizers hope sales will pick up once South Korea start winning medals.
Newspaper editorials called on South Koreans to support the event by turning up at stadiums in large numbers to cheer their stars at the Games where they hope to finish second behind mighty China like they have done regularly since 1986 when Seoul hosted the event.
The South Koreans see the Games as an occasion to bury a painful year which has been marked by tensions with Japan and North Korea and the deaths of nearly 300 people in a ferry tragedy. Most of them were children and teachers from one school.
Meanwhile, Qatar start off with handball and shooting today. While Qatar meet Oman in handball, the shooters will take part in the qualifiers in the women’s 10 air pistol and the men’s 50m pistol and trap events.
