Look: Crowd roars as Chinese President Xi Jinping opens Hangzhou 19th Asian Games

Organisers hoped a high-tech opening ceremony will help drum up excitement for the Games

Published: September 24, 2023 07:50 Compiled by Christian Borbon, Senior Web Editor and Reuters

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Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the COVID-19 delayed 19th Asian Games on Saturday in the Eastern city of Hangzhou during a shiny opening ceremony on Saturday. Image Credit: AFP

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The Games, delayed a year due to China's measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, will be the country's biggest sporting event in over a decade in several metrics, with around 12,000 athletes from 45 nations competing in 40 sports. Image Credit: AFP

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Chinese swimmer Wang Shun reacts while carrying the torch during the Opening Ceremony. Image Credit: Reuters

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China's national flag is carried during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province. Image Credit: AFP

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Spectators watch the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou. Image Credit: AFP

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou. Image Credit: AFP

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Performers during the Opening Ceremony. Image Credit: Reuters

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou. Image Credit: AFP

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The light show for the opening ceremony of 2022 Asian Games is pictured in the sky over the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou Image Credit: AFP

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The Olympic Council of Asia flag (L) and China's national flag are displayed during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province. Image Credit: AFP

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games. Image Credit: AFP

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Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Image Credit: AP

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Artists perform ahead of the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Image Credit: AP

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A person holds a Chinese flag during the Asian Games Opening Ceremony Image Credit: Reuters

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Look: Crowd roars as Chinese President Xi Jinping opens Hangzhou 19th Asian Games

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Look: Crowd roars as Chinese President Xi Jinping opens Hangzhou 19th Asian Games

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