Hangzhou opens its heart
Unforgettable opening ceremony welcomes continent’s best to largest-ever Asian Para Games
‘Hearts Meet, Dreams Shine”. True to the Games’ slogan, the opening ceremony of the 4th Asian Para Games on Oct 22 was touching and impressive enough to connect the hearts of viewers all across the continent, while raising the curtain on a stage where Asia’s finest para athletes were ready to shine.
Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang officially declared the start of the Games at the opening ceremony in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province.
The showpiece featured strong elements of osmanthus, the city flower of Hangzhou, which symbolized the warm invitation extended to all athletes and participants.
A golden osmanthus appeared
inside Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, which was suddenly filled with its sweet fragrance and flying osmanthus petals. The petals then came together to form a bridge, symbolizing the host city and the connection of people all over Asia.
Twenty-two massive bouquets of golden osmanthus, which represent the 22 sports featured in the event, served as the centerpiece of the ceremony. With the help of technology, the bouquets took on different configurations before eventually turning into a giant crown suspended in the air, welcoming the athletes as they entered the stadium.
“Today, with the sweet smell of osmanthus in the October air, Hangzhou celebrates another grand sporting event. As the very successful 19th Asian Games Hangzhou came to an end, the 4th Asian Para Games begin, continuing the city’s passion for
sports,” said Wang Hao, president of the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou Organizing Committee (HAPGOC).
“We have been committed to hosting a streamlined, safe and splendid Asian Para Games and dedicated ourselves to making all preparations, in order to deliver an unforgettable celebration of sport, sportsmanship and life, which is centered on people with disabilities in Asia.”
“Zhejiang province is working to become a demonstration zone for achieving common prosperity, where every person has the opportunity to shine and realize his or her dream. ‘Hearts Meet, Dreams Shine’ is not only the slogan of this Asian Para Games, but also our shared aspiration,” said Wang, who is also governor of Zhejiang province.
“We hope that the para-athletes will enjoy the competition as they pursue excellence in sports, realize their
dreams, and shine with dignity, confidence, strength and independence,” Wang added.
The Asian Para Games have attracted around 3,100 para athletes and 2,090 delegation officials from across Asia to Hangzhou, while more than 1,550 technical officials and 3,090 media personnel are also attending the Games. That makes the Hangzhou edition the largest-scale Asian Para Games in history.
A total of 564 medal events across 22 sports will take place in 19 competition venues in Hangzhou. According to the Games’ organizing committee, as of Oct 21, more than 326,000 tickets had been sold, with ticket revenue exceeding 7.4 million yuan ($1 million).
“In front of me, I can see thousands of athletes from NPCs (National Paralympic Committees) across Asia. You are magnificent! You have given
blood, sweat and tears to make it here and over the next six days, you will give your all to put in the performances of your lifetimes,” said Majid Rashed, president of the Asian Paralympic Committee.
“This is the power of the Paralympic Movement and you athletes are at the very heart of it, and here in Hangzhou is the stage where you can showcase your amazing talents.
“And what a stage Hangzhou is! The city is beautiful, the venues are first class and the people are fantastic hosts. Thank you to HAPGOC for your tireless efforts which will make these the best ever Asian Para Games I’m sure!”
Just as at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, advanced technology played a role in igniting the cauldron for the Para Games. The final torch bearer, Xu Jialing a Zhejiang native who won seven swimming gold medals at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games, used a high-tech prosthetic arm to finish the task, together with Feifei, the Para Games’ mascot.
Inspired by the image of the Divine Bird — believed to be a bringer of glad tidings — found in the 5,000-year-old Liangzhu civilization, Feifei is an icon of Hangzhou’s heritage and drive for technological innovation, a messenger of culture, joy and happiness.