Hangzhou, China, September 22, 2023: The Executive Secretary General of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee, Mr. Chen Weiqiang, has promised a “grand party” at the opening ceremony on Saturday night.
The Hangzhou Vice Mayor attended the Chefs de Mission meeting at the Athletes’ Village on Friday morning to emphasize the need for cooperation in relation to the opening ceremony, which will take place at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.
The ceremony will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and there will be 50,000 people in the stadium nicknamed “Big Lotus”.
“The opening ceremony will be a grand gathering of Asian athletes and a grand party,” he told delegates from the 45 National Olympic Committees.
“I am sure you will enjoy your time at the opening ceremony and this requires your support, cooperation and collaboration.”
The ceremony is set to start at 8pm, with the parade of athletes from 8.08pm. The ceremony will last around two hours.
With no restriction on the number of athletes who can march in the parade, organising committee HAGOC has issued a detailed timeline for athletes to gather at specific points in the Athletes’ Village and take shuttle buses to the stadium, 4km away.
The timeline also includes the pick-up/drop-off zone, gathering point and the entrance into the main stadium from one of two gates. There is also an early departure available, from 9pm to 9.20pm.
“I do hope the National Olympic Committees and athletes will work in collaboration in order to have a grand and magnificent event,” he added, and pointed out that the assembly must be completed by 7pm.
“I would urge you to listen to the guidance in the Athletes’ Village regarding the pick-up area and shuttle bus service.”
OCA Acting Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari praised HAGOC for the efficiency in checking in over 17,500 athletes and officials into the Asian Games Village.
The meeting also heard that IOC President Thomas Bach will meet Asian athletes at the Chefs de Mission meeting hall in the NOC Services Centre of the Athletes’ Village on Saturday morning. All NOCs have been asked to nominate one athlete.