Hangzhou, China, September 23, 2023: The Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) has announced the list of flag bearers from the 45 National Olympic Committees for the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games on Saturday, September 23.
In its efforts to promote gender equity, the Olympic Council of Asia asked the NOCs to nominate one female and one male athlete to carry the flag into the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium for the parade of athletes.
The opening ceremony will start at 8pm and the parade is timed for 8.08pm.
The order of marching has been announced, with Afghanistan leading the way and host nation China the last to enter, after Yemen.
China’s two flag bearers will be swimmer Qin Haiyang, who won four gold medals – three in the individual breaststroke competitions and one mixed medley relay - at the recent World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan and women’s basketball star Yang Liwei.
Here is the list provided by HAGOC