Business

Guangdong Special: Guangzhou preps for sports event

By Cai Cai (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-30 08:01

Organizers of the 16th Asian Games said they have put forth efforts to make the November event in Guangzhou rich, wonderful and harmonious.

"After more than 2,200 days of hard work, we have entered into the final stages of preparation. We are ready for the opening of the Games," said Xu Ruisheng, Guangzhou deputy mayor.

"Preparation work in the co-host cities of Foshan, Dongguan and Shanwei is also going smoothly," he added.

Officials from the Coordination Committee of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) praised Xu and other Games organizers at a conference last August.

The OCA met with local authorities and visited the sports fields, gyms and related facilities where the upcoming Asian Games will take place.

From November 12 to 27, more than 15,000 athletes, trainers and coaches from 45 Asian countries and regions will gather in Guangzhou.

The event will feature 42 sports and offer athletes a chance to claim 476 titles. It is slated to be the largest in Asian Games history.

Guangzhou is only the second city in China to host the sporting competition. Beijing held the Games in 1990.

Around 53 venues will be used for competitions and another 17 independent venues for training, Xu said.

Xu noted that the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) had already worked out an agenda for competitions, and was now testing venues and equipment.

Tickets for the Games have been in high demand since online booking became available May 20.

More than 5,000 university and college students will volunteer at the event after receiving specialized training to better work with athletes, officials, and audiences. Guangzhou city government has set a price ceiling of no more than $200 per night for local hotels during the half-month event.

"The 16th Asian Games, the largest and the most influential comprehensive sports event to be hosted by Guangzhou to date, will leave rich legacies and benefit local residents," said Xu.

(China Daily 09/30/2010 page16)