China's Xi declares biggest-ever Asian Games open

After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports.

"Finally we can gather for the 19th Asian Games," Raja Randhir Singh, acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia, told the crowd to more cheers.Security was tight in the area around the arena in the hours leading up to the ceremony, with roads closed and police stationed on street corners. Jung-Woo Lee, sport policy expert at the University of Edinburgh, told AFP the Games were "China's post-pandemic soft-power exercise".

Games athletes will fight for medals in Olympic staples such as athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics and cycling. Nine sports, among them boxing, break dancing and tennis, will serve as Asia qualifiers for next year's Paris Olympics. "We are open to all. This means our Games are not concentrated only for elite sportspeople," he said.

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