46 days to go for Incheon Asian Games
The eyes and ears of the world’s 4.5 billion Asians will focus on Incheon later next month. The city is bustling with final preparations for the upcoming 17th Asian Games. Less than 50 days are left before the games take place in Incheon, from September 19 to October 4. About 13,000 athletes and staff from 45 countries, including North Korea, will participate in the games, competing against each other and showing off their years of training. Incheon will accommodate the 16-day games, as it hosts the largest party in Asia.
The main stadium of the Incheon Asian Games 2014 (photo courtesy of the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)
A bus is decorated with photos of swimmer Park Tae-hwan (left) and rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae. They are PR ambassadors for the Incheon Asian Games 2014. (photo courtesy of the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)
Photos of rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae, one of the PR ambassadors for the Incheon Asian Games 2014, decorate a wall at Incheon International Airport. (photo courtesy of the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)
Theme of communication, harmony for opening, closing ceremonies
The games’ opening ceremony will be held at the main stadium of the Incheon Asian Games on September 19, under the theme of, “Dream of 45 Million People, Unity in Asia.” With the slogan, “Diversity Shines Here,” theIncheon Asian Games Organizing Committee wants the opening and closing ceremonies to promote peace and harmony among the world’s 4.5 billion Asians.
The highlight of the opening ceremony will be the moment when the torches from New Delhi, India, and from Manisan Mountain, on Korea’s Ganghwado Island, are ignited together. New Delhi hosted the original Asian Games in 1951 and now Incheon will become the first host city to receive the torch from New Delhi, delivered for the opening ceremony. After the torch is collected from New Delhi, it will embark on a 13-day journey to Incheon via Weihai, in China. The closing ceremony will feature both athletes and members of youth cheering teams, who will root for athletes both inside and outside game venues, to deliver a message of, “One Asia.” .
Two famous filmmakers — Im Kwon-taek and Jang Jin — will supervise and produce both the opening and closing ceremonies. The two directors said they would create ceremonies that include Incheon citizens and the city as a whole, in order to envision a future for Asia with respect for everyone. Director Im Kwon-taek said he is planning to create a, “variety show with state-of-the-art IT technology in the opening ceremony.” “We will present a vision of Asia through communication and harmony, while showing Korean characteristics at the same time,” said the direcor.
Above: The official mascots for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games are the seal siblings (from left) Barame, Chumuro and Vichuon. Bottom: The official emblem of the games combines a huge wing, consisting of a string of capital ‘A’s, the first letter of “Asia,” with a shining sun. This symbolizes the Asian people holding hands across the sky. (images courtesy of the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)
Swimmer Park Tae-hwan smiles after finishing the men’s freestyle 200m in a national competition held in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk-do, (North Gyeongsang Province), on July 17. Park won the meet with a new Korean record of 2 minutes and 0.31 seconds. (photo: Yonhap News)
Rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae performs in an international competition held at the Korea National Training Center in Taeneung, Seoul, on June 23. (photo: Yonhap News)
Incheon to host cultural events during the games
Many parts of Incheon will host a variety of cultural events to celebrate the games. Among them, one of the most noticeable will be the Asian Food Festival. Renowned chefs from 10 restaurants will introduce about 100 different kinds of Asian cuisine. The festival will attract tourists with its wonderful aroma and exotic food. Money made through the event will be donated to children support projects in various Asian countries.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr
Gymnast Yang Hak-seon during a national competition held on June 20. (photo: Yonhap News)
Earlier in August, the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee issued a series of commemorative stamps to mark the Incheon Asian Games. These stamps show the mascots and five sports, including wrestling and rhythmic gymnastics. (image courtesy of the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee)