Bali - The inaugural Asian Beach Games, the first ever multi-discipline beach sport event in the world with the theme, ‘Inspire the World‘ was declared open by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at an impressive and colourful ceremony here yesterday.
The nearly five-hour long ceremony held in Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a monumental BALI: The inaugural Asian Beach Games, the first ever multi-discipline beach sport event in the world with the theme, ‘Inspire the World‘ was declared open by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at an impressive and colourful ceremony here yesterday.cultural park in Nusa Dua, an upscale region of Bali, showcased the rich culture and traditions of Indonesia.
The ceremony began with 80 dancers performing the ‘Welcome Dance,‘ a medley of traditional dances followed by the rendition of the Indonesian anthem.
A 12-minute choreographed sequence by 900 dancers depicting the rich history of the hosts was followed by an inspiring rendition of the official song, ‘To be One‘ by singers, Christian Bautista (Philippines), Mark Lazaro (India) and Andre Hehanusa (Indonesia) with accompaniment by an orchestra.
Athletes and officials of the participating countries divided into five groups based on their regions namely, West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia and South East Asia and symbolised by sand, wind, flower, fire and water then participated in a march past . A rendition of the theme song followed by a local artiste.
Beach soccer team player-coach Adel Khamis al-Noobi, the flag bearer led the Qatar delegation into the venue followed by waving officials and athletes.
Addressing the audience, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah said the event would add a new chapter to the Olympic Movement in Asia.
“I am happy that the staging of a multi-discipline beach sport event in Asia has become a reality. It will give beach sport a global audience,” he said while lavishing praise on the organisers of the Games.
“I welcome everybody to the paradise island of Bali. The event celebrates the brotherhood of man and the spirit of mankind which cannot be broken despite financial crisis, poverty, hunger, violence and strife,” said the Indonesian president Yudhoyono as he declared open the Games watched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge.
The lighting of the cauldron to signify the opening of the Games was eventually done by Bali‘s own windsurfer Gusti Oka Sulaksana, a gold medal hopeful at the Games after a torch relay featuring 2004 Olympic badminton champion Taufik Hidayat and beach volleyball star Agus Salim.
A grand show of fireworks, music and pyrotechnics thereafter announced to the world that Bali indeed had put behind the distressing incidents of 2002 and 2005.
The ceremony concluded with a musical performance featuring Indonesia‘s top talents. By John Verghese
Source: http://www.gulf-times.com (October 19, 2008)