Japan, on Saturday, showcased its technological and industrial might as well as its deep cultural moorings, in a frugal yet colourful opening ceremony of the Asian Games offering a silver lining after the organizational and logistical troubles significantly marred the build-up to the mega event.
NAGOYA — Japan, on Saturday, showcased its technological and industrial might as well as its deep cultural moorings, in a frugal yet colourful opening ceremony of the Asian Games offering a silver lining after the organizational and logistical troubles significantly marred the build-up to the mega event.
The next 15 days will see around 11,000 athletes from 45 nations competing in 43 sports, 71 sub-events, and a total of 469 gold medals till the closing day on October 4.
Competitions for basketball, football, cricket and some other events have already started.
With the concept theme 'Harmonic Heart Beat', Japan welcomed the Asian athletes for the third time in its history after 1958 Tokyo and 1994 Hiroshima.
The centerpiece of the ceremony was the heart-shaped main stage which was chosen to visually anchor the theme of 'One Asia', symbolizing athletes and people from across the continent connecting 'heart to heart'.
The spectacular show at the 30,000-capacity full-to-the-brim Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium seamlessly blended local Aichi industrial technology with classical art, featuring a traditional Japanese Kabuki stage element paired with a massive industrial robot arm waving a flag.
Japanese Emperor Naruhito declared the 20th Asian Games open midway the two-hour long opening ceremony in the presence of Empress Masako, Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and International Olympic Committee chief Kirsty Coventry.
With the Toyota Motor Corporation headquartered in the Aichi prefecture, the show would not have been complete without showcasing some marvelous innovation connected with it. An Accessible People Mover (APM), which became famous as a specialized, low-speed mobility vehicle developed by Toyota for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games was a prominent part of the show.
The build-up to the massive multisport event was, however, hit by a string of operational gaffes, logistical issues and cramped accommodations, putting the beleaguered organising committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on the defensive.
The organisational chaos did dent Japan's reputation, which has otherwise hosted major global events, including the FIFA World Cup (2002) and Olympics (1964, 2021) in the past with fair amount of success.
Led by ace shooter Manu Bhaker and kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat, India entered the Athletes Parade to a round of applause. Dressed in navy blue Saree and bandhgala-style ceremonial jacket, Bhaker was seen waving to the crowd as she entered the arena, leading the 150-strong Indian contingent along with Sehrawat.
The Indian male participants also wore navy blue bandhgala style ceremonial jackets with matching trousers.
Olympic Council of Asia's Refugee team of two athletes came just before hosts Japan, who came last according to tradition in the 46-team Parade.
The loudest expectedly was reserved for Japan which is fielding the largest contingent of in the Games with more than 900 athletes.
A welcome act titled 'Awakening of the Space and the Resonating Heart Beat' set the tone with Taro Hakase, one of Japan's most loved violinists and composers, dishing out fanfare-like music, befitting the opening of a sporting festival, with the spreading light and lasers enveloping the venue.
As a glittering 10-meter-tall flag rises like a beacon heralding the start of the competition, angel drones with heart-shaped wings float around the venue sparkling brightly, and the venue gets transported to a world of hearts, the theme of the opening ceremony, along with a welcome dance by the dancers.
As Hakase's violin solo began, 240 citizen dancers, grouped into four different colors, from Nagoya and other parts of Aichi emerged from below the stage. They converged and diverged repeatedly, expressing the interconnectedness and pulse of life in various formations. Finally, the dancers form the word WELCOME, conveying hospitality.
After the Japanese flag raising ceremony and rendition of host country's national anthem, the Athletes Parade began.