Asian Games 2023 Opening Ceremony Highlights: Biggest-ever Asian Games kicks off with a spectacular opening ceremony

Blending the realms of artificial intelligence and eco-friendly technology, the Hangzhou Asian Games commenced on Saturday with a truly unique opening ceremony, featuring a breathtaking futuristic light show as its centerpiece. Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions arising from the denial of entry to three Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh, the captivating program artfully combined elements of technology, China's rich cultural history, and the essence of unity across the continent.

After some spectacular performances, the Asian Games torch has been lit and Chinese athletes parade with it in the middle.

After the Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Asian Games open, it was followed by the OCA Flag ceremony and a welcome video. It is now time for the Gala performance from the artists.

With that, the President of the People's Republic Of China Xi Jinping declares the 19th Asian Games open in Hangzhou.

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday stated that after China refused visas of 3 Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh, he decided to cancel his visit to the Asian Games. Three Indian Wushu players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu were denied entry to China to compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday.

The Games will be staged at 54 venues -- 14 newly constructed -- mostly in Hangzhou but also extending to cities as far afield as Wenzhou, 300 kilometres (180 miles) south. Hangzhou, a city of 12 million people an hour's bullet train from Shanghai, is the unofficial home of China's tech industry and the Games will feature driverless buses, robot dogs and facial recognition.

After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid regime, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports. China's status as a sporting and business destination took a severe hit during the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and strict travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country. The hosts will be overwhelming favourites to top the medals table, with Japan and South Korea battling for second.

Xi is scheduled to open proceedings in front of dignitaries including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is on his first visit to ally China since the war erupted in Syria in 2011. Leaders from Cambodia, Kuwait and Nepal will also be at Hangzhou's 80,000-capacity Olympic stadium, also known as "the Big Lotus".