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

Last updated: September 24, 2023 | 08:33

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.

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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.

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Chinese swimmer Wang Shun reacts while carrying the torch during the Opening Ceremony.

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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.

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

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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.

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Performers during the Opening Ceremony.

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games.

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Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games.

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

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

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A person holds a Chinese flag during the Asian Games Opening Ceremony

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