Location Incheon, South Korea | ||
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Time 18:00 – 23:29 KST (UTC+9) Date 19 September 2014 (2014-09-19) Also known as Asia long time ago
Asia meeting through the sea
Asia as family and friends
Asia as one and future joining with today Filmed by KBS N Sports
MBC
OBS
CCTV
IRIB | ||
The 2014 Asian Games opening ceremony was held on Friday, 19 September 2014. It began at 6:00pm Korea Standard Time (UTC+9) and ended at 11:29pm. The ceremony took place at newly built Incheon Asiad Main Stadium.
Contents
The ceremony shows a perfect combination of Asian tradition with latest innovation. The ceremony has been directed by renowned Im Kwon-taek and Jang Jin with the performances being divided into four acts that will depict Asia’s past, present and future. It will include topics like Asia long time ago, Asia meeting through the sea, Asia as family and friends and Asia as one and future joining with today. Several South Korean singers and performers will highlight the Korean traditional art.
The evening gala covered four acts, from "Asia long time ago", "Asia meeting through the sea", "Asia as family and friends", and "Asia as one and future joining with today". South Korean actors Chang Dong-Geon and Kim Soo-hyun led the stories, with Chang narrating the first story and Kim appearing through a video during the second stage. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, South Korean President Park Geun-hye and other state dignitaries attended the ceremony. After being carried to the stadium by golfer Inbee Park and speed skater Lee Kyou-hyuk, the Asian Games ceremonial flame was lighted by South Korean actress Lee Young-ae of Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace) fame. South Korean entertainer Psy and Chinese pianist Lang Lang performed the final musical number of the opening ceremony. In the Parade of Nations, North Korea was loudly cheered by those who attended. China and Japan were also enthusiastically welcomed.
Preparations
The Games cost approximately US$1.62 billion, with the Incheon government paying for roughly 79 percent and the South Korean government covering the rest. However, ticket sales have been sluggish for the Games. While fans are flocking to grab tickets for rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae and badminton star Lee Yong-dae's events, sales for the football competition were just seven percent and athletics eight percent.
The man who was in charge of the opening ceremony for the 2014 Asiad was the Korean film director Gweon-Taek Lim, who is widely known as one of Korea’s most respected filmmakers who produced globally recognized films including Chunhyang (2000) and Sopyonje (1993). His assistant was another renowned Korean filmmaker, Jang Jin, who is known for pictures such as The Front Line (2011). The mayor of South Korea's third city has admitted that Incheon, which has built 17 new venues, is in financial trouble because of the cost of hosting the Games.
Officials and guests
South Korean President Park Geun-hye was accompanied by President of International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, President of Olympic Council of Asia Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Tokyo Governor Yōichi Masuzoe and also Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok. Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yoon-ok also attended the ceremony.
Proceedings
The theme for the 1st half of the opening ceremony which is one of the most stunning spectacles in any major sports event was “Encountering the Dream of Asia”. While the music, performances and digitalized videos and other art works were often used to display aspects of the host nation’s culture, Incheon’s ceremony also carried out a message encouraging all of Asia to unite under a single banner. One key part of the ceremony that many older Koreans expressed great enthusiasm for was the appearance of a little girl rolling a hoop across the main stadium. This was a reference to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul where everyone remembers the iconic “Hoop Boy”. This time for the Incheon Asiad it was a “Hoop Girl” who represented the dreams of young child athletes who would dream of playing for their respective countries in future Asiad and Olympic tournaments. The girl who was selected to roll the hoop is in fact a young gymnast who hopes to represent South Korea in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
One of the most stunning performances in the entire opening ceremony was a digital display of a wide ocean that was performed in the middle of the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. The theatrical performance involved people dressed as different cultures of Asia and boarding a ship to Incheon, representing a unified Asia. Many celebrities were there to celebrate with the athletes and sports fans of Asia.
After the performances, the athletes of the participating nations entered the main stadium with their flags, including the North Korean national team. 45 teams were competing in the Asiad, and the Korean athletes were the last to enter. Kim Hyeon-woo, who is favorite to win multiple gold medals for wrestling was chosen to carry the Korean flag into the stadium.
Actress Lee Young-ae, who is most known for her role as Jang-geum in the Korean drama Dae Jang Geum was one of the people selected to carry the Asiad torch that lighted the Olympic fire that burning throughout the entire performance. Prestigious musical guests were invited to perform for the opening ceremony also, including world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo, and pop stars JYJ and Psy.
The ceremony closed with words from Park Geun-hye, the president of South Korea, proclaiming that the 17th Asian Games have officially started, marking the beginning of the 19-day sports diplomacy that will hopefully spark peace and cooperation throughout Asia.