Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 20 Special article: Oriental tide surges to Qiantang – people from all over Asia look forward to experiencing the charm of the Hangzhou Asian Games
Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhu Ruiqing Xie Lin
On the bank of the Qiantang River, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium is quietly waiting for the lighting of the Asian Games flame. The sound of the Qiantang River lapping at the shore will mingle with the shouts and cheers of athletes and spectators from all over Asia to witness the opening of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Hangzhou, this thousand-year-old ancient capital and “the most beautiful and luxurious celestial city in the world” in the eyes of Marco Polo, will burst out with new sparks of charm when it encounters the Asian Games. People from all over Asia are eagerly looking forward to discovering the charm of chasing dreams in the hard work of athletes, experiencing the charm of the intertwining of traditional Chinese culture and modern dynamic cities in ancient Hangzhou, and feeling the charm of Asian unity in the gathering of the Asian family.
This is the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center stadium complex taken on June 28, 2023 (drone photo).Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi
The Charm of Tide·Chasing Dreams
“Every time I survived a conflict, I told myself to keep chasing my dreams.”
After Abdullah Alkan, a beach volleyball player from Gaza Strip, Palestine, qualified for the Hangzhou Asian Games, he was training and preparing for the competition every day. Being thin as a child and the dilapidated training facilities were no obstacles, and the raging war could not stop him from pursuing his dream. Abdullah has always looked forward to one day representing Palestine in international events such as the Olympics and Asian Games, just like his father and coach Khalid Alkan. Today, at the age of 20, his dream has come true.
When the tide meets the rocks, flying flowers burst out, just like an athlete with a dream, with perseverance and persistence, not afraid of dangers and obstacles, moving forward. This is exactly the meaning of the “Tide” emblem of the Hangzhou Asian Games. The main graphic consists of six elements: fan, Qiantang River, Qianjiang tide, track, Internet symbol and the sun graphic representing the Olympic Council of Asia. It not only has the poetic and picturesque scenery of the Jiangnan water town, but also symbolizes the courage to be the first and the tide. fighting spirit.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival on the Qiantang River, there was a strong wind and the sound of thousands of horses running along the Qiantang River. The Hangzhou Asian Games coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and is also the best time to watch the annual Qiantang River tide. By then, there will be a “surge” scene both inside and outside the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The “trendsetters” participating in the competition from various Asian countries have their own dreams. Afghan young man Mohammad Khalid Hotak became a martial arts athlete because of his obsession with Chinese Kung Fu. He viewed the hard work on the field as a good medicine to heal the pain of war. “I am very happy to have chosen this sport. Martial arts conveys peace and friendship to people.” Nepal has never won a gold medal at the Asian Games, and Nepalese karate athlete Biplov Lal Shrestha hopes to win it in Hangzhou. Gold, achieving a zero breakthrough. At this Hangzhou Asian Games, e-sports has become an official competition event of the Asian Games for the first time. Saudi Arabia’s e-sports national team coach Fahd Huwasin is looking forward to discussing and communicating with Chinese players on e-sports events. Tajikistan’s men’s 57kg boxer Asrol Vohidov regards the Hangzhou Asian Games as a new starting point to pursue his “dream of winning medals in the Olympics” in the future.
The dynamic Hangzhou in early autumn is a stage for realizing dreams; on the sports field, the passionate struggle of competitors interprets the charm of chasing dreams. As Ogata Tatsumi, head of the Japanese delegation at the Asian Games and chairman of the Japan Athletics Association, said: “I hope the athletes will give their best performance and convey the charm of sports to the people.”
On September 18, at the main media center of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the mascot Chen Chen was with the staff.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xue Yuge
Jiangnan Yi·The Charm of Culture
When I recall Jiangnan, I remember Hangzhou the most.
The mascot of the Asian Games “Jiangnan Yi” can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of Hangzhou: Cong Cong wearing Liangzhu’s “god and animal mask” headdress, the lotus with “Three Pools Reflecting the Moon”, one of the ten scenes of the West Lake, and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Gongchen Bridge and Chenchen in the image of the Qianjiang River tide. In the Hangzhou Asian Games Village, these “three little ones” turned into traffic lights; in the welcome area of the airport station, they welcomed guests from all walks of life; by the West Lake, they accompanied tourists to check in for various delicious and fun places…
These three mascots containing elements of traditional Chinese culture are loved by people from all over Asia. In the view of Pierre Jarhe, Chairman of the Lebanese National Olympic Committee, “China can always show its long history and culture in creative ways.” Rowa, who is studying at Qatar University, believes that “it is cool to incorporate traditional Chinese elements into the Asian Games logo” and “the design of the mascot will arouse people’s interest in Chinese culture and encourage them to understand and learn Chinese culture in depth.”
Hangzhou Asian Games Village is a window that showcases traditional Chinese culture. There is a cultural house in the village, displaying more than 40 intangible cultural heritage skills. The Asian Games Village has also carefully prepared theatrical performances with themes such as “Meeting the Mid-Autumn Festival” and “Meeting Jiangnan”, as well as special concerts, cultural fairs and other activities, allowing “villagers” to immerse themselves in the charm of traditional Chinese culture.
Cities are carriers of culture. Hangzhou has taken advantage of the Asian Games and become a bright business card to showcase Chinese traditional culture to Asia and the world. Strolling around the West Lake, checking out the “Big Lotus” and collecting “Jiangnan Memories” have become a new trend nowadays. Whether it is the “Big Lotus”, “Little Lotus”, “Big Jade Cong”, “Hangzhou Umbrella” and other venue shapes, or the “fire” torch incorporating Liangzhu jade cong elements, the “Hushan” medal showing the landscape of Hangzhou’s lakes and mountains, and the “blue and white porcelain” dress , and the core graphic “moisture” of the Asian Games, which uses Hangzhou’s specialty silk, all adds a profound cultural background to this event.
Recently, at the Hangzhou Asian Games and Zhejiang Cultural Tourism Theme Promotion Conference held in Tehran, the capital of Iran, some Iranian athletes said excitedly that they were very honored to have the opportunity to compete in Hangzhou and hoped to take this opportunity to experience the charm of Chinese culture and the unique style of Hangzhou up close.
“Hangzhou has a long history and beautiful scenery. This Asian Games will perfectly present the beauty and characteristics of Chinese culture, allowing audiences from all over the world to appreciate China’s cultural heritage.” Badama, Vice Chairman of the Thai Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee Liswada Gong said.
This is the Leifeng Pagoda in the West Lake Scenic Area in Hangzhou taken on April 19, 2022 (drone photo).Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Zongzhi
The charm of heart-to-heart harmony and unity
For Jiang Jie, who is 60 years old this year, coming to the Hangzhou Asian Games this time is both a homecoming and an expedition.
At the 11th Asian Games held in Beijing 33 years ago, Jiang Jie and his teammates won a men’s volleyball gold medal for China. Now, as a coach, he leads the Indonesian men’s volleyball national team to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games, striving to achieve good results.
Promoting exchanges, enhancing friendship, and uniting unity are the charms of sports. The Hangzhou Asian Games is a grand event of friendship and unity. The theme slogan of the games, “Heart to heart, love for the future” conveys the expectation of people from all over Asia to integrate heartily and tolerate each other on the stage of the Asian Games. This echoes the ideal of the “Asian family” to unite and embrace each other closely. It is also consistent with the Olympic spirit of “faster, higher, stronger – more united”.
“This theme conveys an important idea, that is, we should treat each other sincerely and understand each other with heart.” “It reminds us that the road ahead is still long and we need to ensure that we are always moving in the right direction. Let us look forward to more together. glorious future”. said Charon Vadhanasin, Vice Chairman of the Thai Olympic Committee.
The speech delivered by Tran Quang Phuong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam at the departure ceremony of the Vietnamese delegation at the Hangzhou Asian Games coincided with the theme of “Heart to heart, love for the future”. He said that the Hangzhou Asian Games is a grand event for athletes from various Asian countries and regions. It will enhance mutual understanding, unity and friendship among Asian countries and regions, and contribute to building an increasingly strong and prosperous Asia.
Jibril Rajoub, Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and Chairman of the Palestinian Supreme Council of Youth and Sports, said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from Xinhua News Agency that the Hangzhou Asian Games is a grand event for the reunion of the “Asian family” , will further promote sports and cultural exchanges among Asian countries and regions, and enhance friendship among Asian people.
The sound of the Qiantang tide lapping the shore marks the start of the Hangzhou Asian Games. In the common expectation of people from all over Asia, this sports event will embody the spirit of Asia’s shared destiny and unity and common progress, and inspire Asian countries to move forward hand in hand in the trend of the times of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win! (Participating reporters: Liu Weijian, Zhao Jiasong, Zou Xuemian, Yi Aijun, Yang Dehong, Yue Chenxing, Wang Zijiang, Liu Zongya, Shadati, Ren Qian, Lin Hao, Wang Yuanyuan, Wang Aona, Sun Yi)
【Error correction】
[Editor in charge: Qiu Lifang]
2023-09-20 07:09:25
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