Hangzhou, China, August 27, 2023: The Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) held a series of events and announcements to mark the 30-day countdown last week.
Chen Weiqiang, Executive Secretary General of HAGOC and Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou, disclosed during a press conference that the eight-year preparations for the Asian Games had reached an end, with all arrangements now in place.
The Games will produce 481 gold medals, after two roller skating events were cancelled due to a lack of participating National Olympic Committees, and the final version of the competition schedule will be announced at the end of this month.
There will be 40 sports and 61 disciplines taking place at the 54 competition venues in Hangzhou and the five co-host cities from September 23 to October 8.
In other news, the torch relay will kick off in Hangzhou on Friday, September 8, with the first torchbearer beginning the journey at Yongjin Park.
A total of 2,022 torchbearers will participate, ranging from the youngest at 14 years old to the oldest at 84 years old, and the OCA’s NOCs will join in the relay fun at a special event on September 20 – just three days before the opening ceremony.
Meanwhile, the first gold medal of the Asian Games will be awarded at Fuyang Water Sports Centre on September 24.
