Blaze of music, colour kicks off Incheon Games
21 Sept 2014 4:23 AM IST
Pop sensation Psy was the star attraction as a dazzling opening ceremony, showcasing the glorious past and modern-day South Korea in a grand spectacle, launched the 17th Asian Games on Friday.
The world’s second-biggest multi-sports spectacle after the Olympic Games, which will see over 13000 competitors from 45 countries and regions vying for glory, was kick-started with songs, dances besides the expected fanfare and fireworks. The Games were declared open by South Korea president Park Geun-Hye with the words ‘I declare open the 17th Asian Games,’ before celebrated actress Lee Young-ae lit up the flame resembling a fountain of cascading water. As Lee lighted the cauldron, dazzling fireworks lit up the evening sky.
The competing teams marched into the stadium in the final act of the evening. The Indian athletes trooped in after Iran with hockey skipper Sardar Singh leading out the smartly-dressed contingent. The Indians were attired in black blazers with the women athletes dressed in blue sarees. The smiling athletes walked in waving the tri-colour. India have sent a nearly 700-strong contingent for the event and will take part in 28 disciplines.
The overriding theme of the opening was the unity of Asia and consequently the cultural show comprised four parts: Asia a long time ago; Asia connected through sea routes; Asia becoming family and friends; and One Asia, the future we met on Friday. As is the custom, the ceremony was divided into the informal and formal parts. The event began with a welcoming performance, lasting close to 80 minutes, to greet the spectators at the 60,000-capacity stadium that was filled to the brim.
It included a cultural heritage performance of Pungmul Play, a performance of a cheering squad, a congratulatory video of celebrities, and K-Pop boy group EXO’s performance to get the spectators revving up for the main event.
A display of Korea’s traditional drums and cymbal-type instruments took place before emcees Kim Sung-ju and Youn Soo-young came on stage. Then, a cheering team formed by young children performed to a remix of songs from past sports events held in Korea, including the theme song of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the 2002 Fifa World Cup. ‘For You,’ one of the popular cheerleading songs used in Korea, wrapped up the song and dance part to get the spectators in the mood for the grand show that followed.
When the lights dimmed a girl symbolising the dreams and hope of humanity enters into the stadium by rolling a hoop which is a traditional play of Korea and here symbolizing the world in unity and human beings living in harmony.
Then the host country’s national anthem was sung to signal the commencement of the formal part of the programme. The teams had been restricted to 130 members for the march past and the Indian marching crowd did not contain competitors whose events start Saturday. As was expected the host country’s contingent, aiming to finish at least second overall in the medals tally behind juggernaut China, was given the loudest cheer of the entire evening.
The Games torch, in a departure from tradition lit on August 9 at New Delhi’s Dhyan Chand National Stadium which was the venue of the inaugural Asian Games in 1951, was then ceremoniously brought into the stadium by a relay squad of runners before the cauldron was lit in spectacular fashion by Korean actor Lee Young-ae to thunderous roars from the crowd.
The world’s second-biggest multi-sports spectacle after the Olympic Games, which will see over 13000 competitors from 45 countries and regions vying for glory, was kick-started with songs, dances besides the expected fanfare and fireworks. The Games were declared open by South Korea president Park Geun-Hye with the words ‘I declare open the 17th Asian Games,’ before celebrated actress Lee Young-ae lit up the flame resembling a fountain of cascading water. As Lee lighted the cauldron, dazzling fireworks lit up the evening sky.
The competing teams marched into the stadium in the final act of the evening. The Indian athletes trooped in after Iran with hockey skipper Sardar Singh leading out the smartly-dressed contingent. The Indians were attired in black blazers with the women athletes dressed in blue sarees. The smiling athletes walked in waving the tri-colour. India have sent a nearly 700-strong contingent for the event and will take part in 28 disciplines.
The overriding theme of the opening was the unity of Asia and consequently the cultural show comprised four parts: Asia a long time ago; Asia connected through sea routes; Asia becoming family and friends; and One Asia, the future we met on Friday. As is the custom, the ceremony was divided into the informal and formal parts. The event began with a welcoming performance, lasting close to 80 minutes, to greet the spectators at the 60,000-capacity stadium that was filled to the brim.
It included a cultural heritage performance of Pungmul Play, a performance of a cheering squad, a congratulatory video of celebrities, and K-Pop boy group EXO’s performance to get the spectators revving up for the main event.
A display of Korea’s traditional drums and cymbal-type instruments took place before emcees Kim Sung-ju and Youn Soo-young came on stage. Then, a cheering team formed by young children performed to a remix of songs from past sports events held in Korea, including the theme song of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the 2002 Fifa World Cup. ‘For You,’ one of the popular cheerleading songs used in Korea, wrapped up the song and dance part to get the spectators in the mood for the grand show that followed.
When the lights dimmed a girl symbolising the dreams and hope of humanity enters into the stadium by rolling a hoop which is a traditional play of Korea and here symbolizing the world in unity and human beings living in harmony.
Then the host country’s national anthem was sung to signal the commencement of the formal part of the programme. The teams had been restricted to 130 members for the march past and the Indian marching crowd did not contain competitors whose events start Saturday. As was expected the host country’s contingent, aiming to finish at least second overall in the medals tally behind juggernaut China, was given the loudest cheer of the entire evening.
The Games torch, in a departure from tradition lit on August 9 at New Delhi’s Dhyan Chand National Stadium which was the venue of the inaugural Asian Games in 1951, was then ceremoniously brought into the stadium by a relay squad of runners before the cauldron was lit in spectacular fashion by Korean actor Lee Young-ae to thunderous roars from the crowd.
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