HANGZHOU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Less than two years after the successful Beijing Winter Olympics, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday opened the Hangzhou Asian Games, the largest in terms of athlete participation and sporting events in the 72-year Asiad history.
"I declare the 19th Asian Games open," Xi said in his baritone voice in a packed stadium with over 80,000 seats in Hangzhou, a scenic city once hailed by 13th-century Italian traveler Marco Polo as "the City of Heaven, the finest and the noblest in the world."
Already a subscriber? Log in
Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
