Good bye Guangzhou!

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from China

Guangzhou, Nov. 27 - It was a night to remember as the sixteenth edition of the Asian Games came to an end with a spectacular closing ceremony which depicted Chinese expertise, technique and its rich culture.

The Guangzhou Asian Games have shown off the culture of Lingnan - or South China - to the rest of the region. It was a treat to watch was the near three-hour closing ceremony had all the ingredients that needed to be called the most glamorous as this Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou secured a sustainable legacy from hosting Asia’s biggest multi-sports event.

The colourful fireworks display was the cynosure of all eyes as spectators at the packed Aoti Main Stadium enjoyed every moment of it.

The 16th Asian Games were unprecedented in both size and scale in the 59-year history of the quadrennial event. More than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries across Asia participated in a record number of 42 disciplines from archery to kabaddi, beach volleyball to chess and also cricket for the first time. China’s third-largest city made the best use of the opportunity to emulate Beijing, which transformed itself for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and Shanghai, which went on a construction spree for the recently completed the famous Shanghai World Expo 2010. “If you haven’t seen Guangzhou since last year, then you’ll be seeing a totally different city now,” Deputy Secretary General of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC), Liu Jiangnan said.

One of the most striking facilities is Asian Games Town, a new community located about 40km southeast of downtown Guangzhou, which has been the home of the Athletes’ Village, Main Press Centre and Media Village for the last several weeks. It will be transformed into a new city after the Para Asian Games which are due to commence early next month.

Both the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia commended the local organisers - GAGOC, for the job well done and the high standards maintained during the Games. IOC President Jacques Rogge said he was impressed by the changes that have taken place in the city, which he first visited nine years ago. “In 2001 when I first came here, we didn’t see so many skyscrapers, you didn’t have the high TV tower,” Rogge was quoted as saying. Guangzhou which had merely been a provincial capital back years ago has now transformed itself to become a world city. Unlike previous multi-sports events, which tended to cluster their venues together, Guangzhou scattered its sites throughout the city’s 10 districts, two country-level satellite cities and the three co-host cities of Foshan, Dongguan and Shanwei.

Liu said it was regrettable that some athletes may have felt inconvenienced by the travelling involved, but that Games organisers also had to bear in mind the demands of Guangzhou’s 10 million residents. When hosting the Games, the local organisers have paid extra care on the city’s future development as well as to ensure the venues don’t become ‘white elephants after the Games are over. The Asian Games Town will become a residential community, while a dragon boat venue 74km from downtown Guangzhou will be turned into a public park.

OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said the Asian Games in Guangzhou would go down in history as “one of the best ever”. “The city of Guangzhou has done a very great job for the Asian Olympic Movement and for the Asian Olympic family,” he said.

“It was one of the best ever in the history of Asian Olympic Movement.” When asked to compare the Guangzhou Games with previous editions, the OCA Chief was quick to note that each Asian Games have their own features.

“Our target is to make the Asian Games better, and this was our job,” said Sheikh Ahmad. “Each Asian Games have different aims, have different situations.” The features of Doha 2006 and Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games have enriched the OCA legacy. This legacy facilitates future organisers to perform well.

Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Xu Ruisheng said that there have been many touching stories every day at all of the competition venues. “Audiences have shown their enthusiasm and athletes from the participating countries and regions are performing at their utmost best. This is what the Games needed,” Xu said. It was an emotional moment for all, as they felt the sadness when departing.

Over the past few weeks, sportsmen and women from 45 countries have developed new friends, bonds and relationships in true spirit. There had not been any ethic, religious and cultural boundaries. Which ever part of Asia they came from, they spoke one language - sport. The saying ‘Sport is a great leveller’ was truly experienced.

As the curtain came down of the 16th Asian Games, everybody involved at the Asian Games family, including volunteers, felt it hard to leave their newly found friends and perhaps partners. “See you in Incheon,” were last words they exchange before packing their baggage to return to their native cities.