Incheon: The XVII Asian Games are all set to kick-start officially within a couple of days from now. The two-week long multi-sporting event is going to feature almost 10,000 athletes, which is taking place at the South Korean port city Incheon from September 19 to October 4.
Incheon is the third city in South Korea after Seoul (1986) and Busan (2002) to host the Asian Games.
The opening ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Friday, will feature world-renowned artists like “Gangnam Style” singer PSY and Chinese pianist Lang Lang to name a few.
Though, before the opening ceremony, the football competition had already started on Sunday. Japan, the defending men’s champion, have already posted a victory over Kuwait.
Interestingly, during the Games, North Korean flag can be displayed, as the South Korean government has lifted the ban over the (North Korean) flags for Asian Games venues.
Athletes from all over Asia will compete in 439 events in 36 sports during the Games, which could prove major dress rehearsals for many of them ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
If China, who have been topping the medal-tally for last many editions, has sent the largest contingent of nearly 900 athletes, then tiny Brunei has the smallest delegation, with just 11 athletes at their disposal.
India, who finished sixth in the last edition at Guangzhou has sent a strong contingent for the XVII Asiad consisting of 516 athletes, who will compete in 28 events.
Will the official slogan of “Diversity Shines Here” we hope the Games will see all the athletes, who are coming from different walks of life, playing with a healthy sporting spirit to make the Asiad a memorable one in every possible sense.
