olympics08

A diver has just lit the cauldron along with two children from the beginning of this ceremony! They lit a wick (with a Chinese design on its pot) and pyrotechn ics shot up into the cauldron! Now the finale: Tan Jing singing the song roughly titled "Smile". With fireworks of course, at least later.

Three athletes have now carried the Asian Games flame: a dragot boat athlete, a gymnast an trackster, and a table tennis player.

Fu Hiafeng, badmintaon player: In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Asiuan Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams. Guo Hainan, gymnastics judge: In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Asian Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship.

The OCA flag is now taken to the stage as Sun Nan and Mao Amin sing the 16th Asian Games theme song "Reunion" ("Chongfeng" in Chinese). The flag will be raised to the OCA's anthem, first played at the 1998 Asian Games.

Wen Jiabao: I declare the 16th Asian Games open!

Now the speeches by the President of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organzing Committee (GAGOC), Li Peng, and the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Fahad Al Sabah. Can you help me translate what Li Peng and Huang Huahua (the President of GAGOC who is also adressing the audience) are saying?

The Chinese have entered.

The Filipinos have just entered!

The participating delegations are now entering the stadium: (in order of appearance) Afghanistan (64) Bahrain (89) Bangladesh (152) Bhutan (11) Brunei (9) Cambodia (21) North Korea (199) Hong Kong (406) India (674)[ Indonesia (178) Iran (381) Iraq (52) Japan (722) Jordan (88) Kazakhstan (388) South Korea (801) Kuwait (215) Kyrgyzstan (136) Laos (52) Lebanon (53) Macau (174) Malaysia (344) Maldives (85) Mongolia (244) Myanmar (68) Nepal (142) Oman (52) Pakistan (175) Palestine (41) Philippines (23) (Philippines flag bearer: Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, equestrian) Qatar (292) Saudi Arabia (163) Singapore (241) Sri Lanka (108) Syria (46) Chinese Taipei (393) Tajikistan (76) Thailand (597) Timor-Leste (29) Turkmenistan (111) United Arab Emirates (99) Uzbekistan (268) Vietnam (259) Yemen (32) China (986)

Nice! Drummers enter the stage (with the Asian Games red sun emblem, as opposed to the Olympic Rings, on their drums) as what would possibly be the Games' cauldron emerged. Peoples from across Asia entered the stage and danced, untimately form the red sun and the Guangzhou Asian Games logo. Now the song "Sunshine Again" is sung by a group of singers, namely Kim Hyun Joong and three others (all of these others Chinese). Can anyone identify these three?

Amazing act! Performers in midair (18m high) formed water waves, smiling faces, and birds to complete the scenes show on the eight LED screens! They even pretended to be the people on the mountains!

Jet skiers coming from the Pearl River sailed into a narrow water passage separating the stage from the temporary bleacher made for the opening. They waved to the crowds, performing stunning manouvers.

An amazing segment featuring a giant model of a Chinese junkship sailing into the stage from behind (there are tall fountains backstage). The ship went through a storm, until a new dawn was greeted by Cantonese drummers and women with shawls. The crew on the ship wore traditional Cantonese dress. Now a song is being sung, with the famous pianist Lang Lang playing the piano. PS. Does anyone know the singer?

That was amazing! Red flowers appeared on stage, joined by those people in illuminated green peasant's hats, before together forming a spring tree. The stage is projected with water, due to the ceremony's theme.

The opening ceremony has just started with a countdown and fireworks from the adjacent Guangdong Radio and TV tower. The Chinese flag then entered the stadium by two children (a boy and a girl) who turned it over the six guards of the People's Liberation Army - Guard of Honor (PLA-GOH) who in turn trooped the flag unfurled (goose-stepping) to the flagpole, where they wrapped up the flag and raised it to the singing of the national anthem.

The Premier of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao, the President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr. Sheikh Hamad Al-Sabah, and other distinguished guests have arrived to attend the opening ceremony of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.

Five minutes to go... The CCTV telecast has started...

With the clock ticking towards the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games, here is where I will tell you of the goings-on at Haixinsha Island. I'm watching from the TVUPlayer feed of CCTV-1, the main Chinese national TV network. TVU Player can be downloaded here. Oh, and while this is going on, you can express your thoughts about this - what eill be a magnificent opening for the 16th Asiad!

I have learned this morning that Solar TV and Solar Sports will also broadcast the Youth Olympics in the Philippines.

Hi, I found this video, the song is called "See The Rainbow Again" which was the theme song of the 2001 Chinese National Games in Guangzhou. http://v.ku6.com/show/x6jRRWX9UWnK3z3o.html And as much of us can remember, it's sounds like a musical piece in the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony (that one during the fireworks finale), particularly the last part:

Hi, can you PM me the link too?

Woohooo! No commentary for us here in the Philippines!

For me, it was an OK ceremony - a wonderful show! Congratulations Vancouver! Congratulations Canada! NB: I didn't know about that problem with the cauldron.... do you know why? SolarTV presented the entire ceremony without commentary! I haven't heard about that moment of silence - the TV channel took a quick break during it.

Enjoying the parade from my house here. SolarTV's presentation of the OC is looking good! So far, no commercials except for small plugs in the frame! And also, there's no commentary at all so far!

I'm all set here too! SolarTV has just joined the worldwide IOC signal for the start of the Vancouver 2010 OC!