Incheon: A message of Asian unity rather than any flaunting of national power was the theme of the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games this evening.
The presence of ‘Gangnam Style’ star DJ PSY, however, was the clear highlight.He whipped out his sunglasses, put on a comedic facial expression, and when he started his signature ‘horse riding’ dance, he had everyone ‘following his footsteps’.
The local lad- PSY- enthralled the crowd at the Munhak Stadium.
The audience went gaga when he took the mike and said “Oppa Gangam style”. People, mediapersons, organisers, every single person here, was seen doing lip-synch of his famous song.
The phrase ‘Gangnam Style’ is a Korean neologism that refers to a lifestyle associated with the Gangnam District of Seoul. ‘Diversity Shines Here’ is the official slogan of the Games. It represents and highlights the significance of Asia’s wonderful diversity in history, cultures, and religions.
Athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations lead their national delegations as they paraded into the jam-packed stadium in the host city.
For India, men’s hockey team captain Sardar Singh proudly carried the Tricolour. The Indian contingent – around 130 athletes and officials – marched into the stadium with the men in red Rajasthani turbans, blue blazers and grey trousers and the women in light blue sarees and blue blazers.
With 36 disciplines, 45 countries, 49 venues, 439 gold medals at stake, the 17th edition of the Asian Games had been kicked off at Incheon.
From weightlifting to wushu, rowing to rugby sevens and swimming to sepaktakraw, the Games will showcase elite Asian talent in 36 sports, with the first of 439 gold medals to be awarded in the women’s 10 metre air pistol team event on Friday.
Much of the attention will be focused on the pool where Olympic champions Sun Yang of China and South Korea’s homegrown hero Park Tae-hwan will meet in a series of freestyle duels.
China has topped the medals table at the last eight Asian Games and is expected to do so again, while the hosts’ target is finishing second, above fierce rivals Japan, for the fifth straight Asiad.
After hosting the Asian Games in 1986 and 2002, and the Olympics in 1988, South Korea will stage the winter Olympics for the first time in Pyeongchang in four years’ time.
A successful Incheon Games would go a long way to allaying any concerns that South Korea will struggle to be ready.
A gold-medal laden performance would also be well received in South Korea, where the mood has been one of grief and despair following the Sewol ferry disaster in April.
Of the 476 passengers and crew on board, 339 were children and teachers from the same school. Only 172 people were rescued and the remainder are all presumed to have drowned.
While relations remain strained between Tokyo and Pyongyang, North Korean and Japanese athletes showed no signs of tension as they filed into the stadium one after another, the Korean alphabet putting the delegations beside each other.
Tensions between North and South Korea are high and the two states are still technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
The Saudi athletic contingent marched into the stadium waving and smiling like all the other delegations but with one major difference – Saudi Arabia is the only country not to send female athletes to the Games, which are running under the slogan: ‘Diversity Shines Here’.
The OCA will make a formal announcement on the next host tomorrow at its general assembly.(uni)
