Guangzhou unveils starry opening for 16th Asian Games

GUANGZHOU— Guangzhou unveiled its rich history in Friday’s opening rites of the 16th Asian Games. The Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee made the four-year wait well worth it for 44 other member countries of the Olympic Council of Asia with a presentation that eloquently told the story of the host city while embracing its more than 12,000 guest athletes and officials from all over the region. “This would be Guangzhou’s coming-out party," mused Philippine Olympic Committee President Jose Cojuangco Jr. before entering Hai Xin Sha stadium for the ceremonies. The event was put together by professionals and helped along by nearly a million volunteers from a nation that is roughly 1.3 billion strong. The Philippine secretariat alone has 12 volunteers acting as liaison for the 10-man administration team. In a nearly three-hour show, People’s Republic of China President Hu Jintao formally declared the Games open at around 9:50 p.m. after the state’s guests and a local crowd of hundreds of thousands had feasted on songs, dances, a majestic fluvial parade and a breathtaking fireworks show. Liu Peng, China’s Minister of the General Administration of Sports, and Guangdong Province Governor Huang Huahua both delivered warm welcome addresses that encapsulated GAGOC’s hard work to ensure the success of this $7-billion undertaking that also seeks to outshine Beijing’s hosting of the Asian Games in 1990. OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah expressed deep satisfaction for the efforts of GAGOC in sustaining the ideals of Olympism and providing the facilities for another successful edition of the quadrennial Games last held in Doha, Qatar. After the mesmerizing experience, PHL athletes shift to competitive gear in 13 disciplines out of the total of 24, including football which will be played today. Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner Ruth Dugaduga guns for what could be PHL’s first medal here at 10:48 in the 78-kg. division against first hurdle local girl Yang Xiuli, while Fil-Japanese Kenji Yahata follow suit sin the 100-kg. class at 10:56 a.m. The quartet of Cecil Mamiit, Treat Conrad Huey, Johnny Arcilla, and Ruben Gonzales also see action on the first day of team competitions at 3 p.m. Swimmers Erica Totten and Youth Olympic Games participant Jasmine Alkhaldi join the preliminary heats for the 200-meter freestyle beginning at 9 p.m. Filipino cue artists also enter the arena starting at 1 p.m. with former world champion Efren “Bata" Reyes and Roberto Gomez being installed as favorites in the 8-ball event. Also seeing action are Marlon Manalo and Rey Grandea in English billiards, and the men and women’s snooker teams composed of Manalo, Benjie Guevarra and Alvin Barbero and Ann Basas and Flor Andal. Philippine entries in 9-ball, which starts Sunday, are Dennis Orcollo and Warren Quiamco. While regarded as world beaters, the members of the Philippine billiards team maintain guarded optimism, as other countries from Asia have kept stride in development in a discipline long regarded as a stronghold of Europeans and Americans. “Magagaling na rin ang Japan, Korea at Chinese Taipei kaya hindi tayo nakakasiguro. Sa Southeast Asia medyo lamang tayo pero sa Asian Games mabigat na ang laban," warned Reyes, who has enthralled the world with his mastery of the game. Of equal if not greater importance to Filipino sports fans will be the 7:15 p.m. clash between the Philippine’s men’s basketball team and that of Kuwait in Group B at the Huangpu stadium. The event draws more sparkle with the presence of China’s NBA stars such as Wang Zhi Zhi, as well as NBA Hall of Famer coach Lenny Wilkins, who sits as consultant for Team Korea. Despite being hounded by last-minute changes in the line-up, the Filipinos are still slightly favored with the inclusion of active professionals in the 12-man roster. But reaching the semifinal round could be too long a shot with Iran and other Middle East squads blocking their path. Dance Sports, which is RP’s surprise package, took one on the chin before the event even started when the technical committee barred two alternates—the husband and wife duo of Joel and Anabelle Madera—from competing in favor of the siblings Brian Joseph Ocana and Karla Ocana due to the late notice. The Ocanas were suspended by their International Federation for competing in a tournament not sanctioned by the federation. Team official Maria Neto, however, insisted that the team is just as eager to perform better despite the unwelcome decision. “Sayang, they are very very good entries in the waltz and quick step events, where there were very few entries and we had a good chance to win," said Neto. At 3 p.m. grandmasters Wesley So and Joey Antonio start their bid for individual honors, while at 2:30 p.m. Jackson Hong and Sandy Chua make their first moves in Xiangqi, China’s version of chess. Air rifleman Jayson Valdez takes his first crack in the 10-meter contest at 11:30 a.m. as the lone shooting entry for the day. Also on tap for early coompetition are Nestor Colonia in Group A of the 56-kg. division of weightlifting, John Renee Mier who will race to qualify in the magic circle of 8 in the 4,000 individual pursuit of cycling, the men's and women’s teams in soft tennis, and the qiangshou artists of wushu, Mary Jane Estimar, Denver Labador, and Marian Mariano. - KY, RCJ, Asian Games Media Bureau, GMANews.TV