South Korean pop stars and performers enthralled the crowd at Incheon’s 61,000-seat stadium as the 17th Asian Games got off to a glittering start last night. Spectators and athletes joined in pop star Psy’s signature horse-riding dance as he belted out an electrifying rendition of his popular number ‘Gangnam Style’.
Wearing a glittering black suit and backed by a team of glamorous dancers, the star brought the three-hour spectacle to a thumping finale, heralding the start of 15 days of competition with 9,500 athletes.
After the brilliant display of One Asia, the march past of participating nations began with Nepal appearing first and hosts South Korea last. Bangladesh came in the middle with shooter Abdullah Hel Baki bearing the national flag.
The chiefs of Inchoen Asian Games Organising Committee and Olympic Council of Asia delivered their short speeches before Korean president Park Geun-hye declared the meet open.
The torch was carried round the stadium by a series of Korean sports stars, including world number two woman golfer Park In-Bee and speed skater Lee Kyou-Hyuk.
Korean actress Lee Young Ae along with two promising young athletes — Kim Youngho, a 12-year old diver and Kim Joowon, a 13-year old gymnast– lit the torch before Psy brought a raucous end to proceedings.
The 17th Asiad includes the full Olympic programme plus Asian favourites like kabaddi and wushu, making for a packed schedule of 36 sports with 439 gold medals on offer.
The organisers will hope that the glittering opening ceremony will inject some buzz among the people of South Korea, who have so far been largely apathetic to the event. They will also hope that the complaints from the athletes of the 45 participating nations about the poor facilities being provided will abate once the competitions kick off in earnest.
Source: The Daily Star
