Based in Hangzhou, expressing China and embracing Asia. Known as the “Big Lotus”, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium is inspired by the dynamics of the Qiantang River and the charm of Hangzhou silk, and last night, in this “lotus” blooming on the banks of the Qiantang River, the opening ceremony of the Asian Games with the theme of “Chaoqi Asia” was held perfectly. The ceremonies and performances of the opening ceremony were connected by water and the tide as the intention, showing the integration and agitation of China, Asia and the world in the new era.
Take water as a courtesy, and the charm of Jiangnan welcomes guests
On the occasion of the “autumn equinox” of China’s 24 solar terms, the host expressed the enthusiasm and openness of welcoming visitors from all over the world with harvest joy. The 19 “water jade cong” beat out the passionate drums, taking water as a courtesy, beating drums to welcome guests, and creating a warm welcome atmosphere.
At the same time as the national flag solemnly entered, the image of the great rivers and mountains appeared on the screen of the venue, and a red silk flew by. This touch of Chinese red carries joy and peace, and carries the deep patriotism of the Chinese people. The children sang “I Love You China” affectionately, supplemented by a choir composed of ordinary citizens and young students, singing the majestic patriotic strongest voice.
After the ceremony of raising the national flag and playing and singing the national anthem, the athletes walked into the stadium. Volunteers greeted the athletes of each delegation with cheerful music of “Our Asia” and youthful and energetic sports dance. The guide’s costume uses the elegant osmanthus flower of Hangzhou as the main visual element to convey the meaning of auspiciousness and friendliness. The guide sign is based on the image of the classical square pattern combined with the peony pattern of Gongbi, and the hollow fan surface is designed by 3D printing technology, which is shaped like the tide of the Qiantang River. The shape of the fan is outlined on the ground screen, and various Jiangnan elements and scenes emerge in it. The theme window of “Meilan Bamboo Chrysanthemum” on the net screen shows elegance and auspiciousness. The calligraphy font of Xiling Seal Society is timeless and elegant, expressing the style of each delegation with Chinese brushstrokes, and welcoming the athletes with a unique Jiangnan charm. The “osmanthus drum” played passionately, carrying good wishes and cheering for the athletes of all delegations. When the Chinese sports delegation was the last to enter the arena, the audience erupted in the most enthusiastic cheers. In the music of “Singing the Motherland”, swimmer Qin Haiyang and basketball player Yang Liwei led the way with a five-star red flag.
In anticipation, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China announced the opening of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, and the audience applauded and cheered with enthusiasm. “Digital” fireworks replace real fireworks and create a warm atmosphere.
The ebb and flow of the tide deduces the myriad changes of “water”.
After the ceremony of raising the flag of the Olympic Council of Asia, playing the anthem, and taking the oath of the representatives of athletes and referees, the short film “Meet in Hangzhou” was played on the spot, and the emblem of the Hangzhou Asian Games “Chaoyong” was used as an emotional link to send an invitation from Hangzhou to the whole of Asia and the world. The opening ceremony began with theatrical performances, all three chapters are inseparable from the element of water, showing the cultural integration of China, Asia and the world in the new era.
The chapter of “National Style and Elegant Rhyme” shows the “beauty” of Jiangnan to the fullest. Using “painting” as a carrier, “a touch of danqing” brings the time back to a thousand years ago, and Song Yun’s painting scroll has been opened since then. The three-dimensional landscapes in the ground screen reflect the hazy naked-eye 3D visual effects of the south of the Yangtze River, creating a light smoke and water sparkling Jiangnan painting environment, and the panoramic three-dimensional image of Gongchen Bridge jumps on the canal.
The chapter of “Qiantang Tide” shows the “power” of the surging new tide. On the ground screen, the Qiantang tides such as cross tides, first-line tides, turning tide tides, and fish scale tides rise and fall one after another. For the first time, 3D Sunway technology was applied to a large-scale sports field, where actors and actresses flying in the air danced with the tide. The mascot “Jiangnan Memories” shuttled freely on the ground screen and the net screen, and the “moving” Congcong, Lianlian, and Chenchen played the “Water Wave Piano” representing the tide of movement. 660 CNC light rods shocked and lit up the “tide of science and technology”, and the AR virtual hemispherical digital dome simulated intelligent and cool basketball, football, etc., as if an infinitely changing giant technological device shrouded in the sports field.
The chapter of “Walking Hand in Hand” shows the concept of “integration” of walking hand in hand. 90 dancers turned into “egret elves” and set out to find the ecological picture scroll of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. 80 balance bike performers swim in the sea of stars, stretching and elegant. “Dream Paradise” is a well-known classic song in Hangzhou, and “Remembering Jiangnan” is a new concept Yue opera with Jiangnan style. Hundreds of Hangzhou college students held luminous golden cinnamon to light up the long “Golden Cinnamon River”. On the screen, the landmark buildings of various countries and regions together form an Asian picture scroll of beauty and beauty. The artificial osmanthus petals and osmanthus fragrance that float from the house make people feel at home in the autumn scenery of the host Hangzhou.
The combination of digital and real science and technology ignites the main cauldron
The final part of the opening ceremony was the lighting of the cauldron, which consisted of 19 columns of different shapes arranged and combined to form a “wave” shape, each column representing a session of the Asian Games. The main cauldron is driven by the internal power structure, showing two forms of rolling waves: when curling, the overall height is about 9 meters, the shape is like a traditional Chinese auspicious cloud, and when unfolded, the overall height is about 19 meters, the shape is like the tide of the Qianjiang River, which is also the final ignition form.
After the torch entered the stadium, when Ye Shiwen, Fan Zhendong, Xu Mengtao, Shi Zhiyong, Li Lingwei, and Wang Shun carried out the relay of the physical torch in turn, more than 100 million “digital torchbearers” on the big screen also converged on the Qiantang River, forming a concrete digital torchbearer, from the Qiantang River stepping on the waves step by step to the “big lotus” sky, and after entering the stadium, he and the last torchbearer Wang Shun jointly lit the cauldron. The digital world resonates with the real world at the same frequency, expressing the good wish to build a community with a shared future in Asia, and leaving a wonderful classic memory of the Hangzhou Asian Games. In addition, for the first time in the history of the Asian Games, the main cauldron was lit with waste carbon regeneration and zero-carbon methanol, which is a vivid portrayal of the green and safe changes in the ignition device of large-scale sports events, and it is also a beautiful interpretation of the green Asian Games.
“With love, share with you, and use hard work to sway every moment. In the melody of the theme song of the Hangzhou Asian Games “Together with Love”, the opening ceremony came to an end. Asian people are with love, and the same love is with Asian people. Photo by Liu Ping