InfoAnda - 'Breakthrough' ceremony opens Asian Games

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Northwest seeks to delay some U.S.-China service | 30 December 2008
US diplomats say US-Japan alliance to stay strong | 3 September 2009
R&B star Akon goes to Bollywood | 11 March 2010

With pizza cash, Kraft sweetens bid for Cadbury | 6 January 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : 'Breakthrough' ceremony opens Asian Games

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam 'Breakthrough' ceremony opens Asian Games AFP - Saturday, November 13 Send IM Story Print 'Breakthrough' ceremony opens Asian Games GUANGZHOU, China (AFP) - – The 16th Asian Games officially opened on Friday in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou with a "breakthrough" ceremony that organisers hope will linger long in the memory. In a departure from the standard openings, Guangzhou, China's third-biggest city, held the traditional curtain raiser on a boat-shaped island in the middle of the Pearl River instead of in a stadium. The extravaganza ignited a huge security sweep to protect national leaders including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, with forces mounting a land, sea and air operation that brought parts of the city of over 10 million to a standstill. Central to the water theme of the ceremony was a flotilla of 45 boats -- representing each competing team -- that sailed up the river before anchoring off Haixinsha island, where a packed grandstand eagerly awaited. Related article: Security noose tightened around Asian Games opening The 9.3-kilometre (six-mile) cruise saw each brightly lit float carry a landmark of the individual country or territory, as crowds on the embankment, many of them waving Chinese flags, cheered and clapped. On a warm, clear night, the 610-metre (2,000-foot) Guangzhou Tower unleashed a volley of red fireworks before a People's Liberation Army brass band played a rousing rendition of the Chinese national anthem to kick off the spectacular. Film starlet Zhang Ziyi and world-renowned pianist Lang Lang delighted the audience with a joint performance that was followed by yellow jet skis motoring up and down a pool in front of thousands of spectators in the main stand. The imposing lattice-style Guangzhou Tower, shimmering in the colours of the rainbow, peered over as each team in turn paraded on the islet of Haixinsha, which means "sand in the heart of the river". North Korea, who unlike the Games four years ago in Doha did not march with South Korea, were given a particularly warm reception, as were Taiwan, but that was nothing compared to the roar when the Chinese team made their entry last. Wen officially declared the Games open, his announcement setting off a barrage of fireworks that lit up the night sky and afterwards left a dense haze of smoke hovering over the venue. Beijing Olympic gold medal-winning diver He Chong lit the flame. "This change of venue for the opening ceremony is a breakthrough in the history of large-scale, international sports events," said He Jiqing, ceremony deputy director of a gala beamed to billions of television viewers. Organisers had promised the largest lighting show ever seen at a major sports event and they did not disappoint, with bridges along the river and buildings along its banks lit up in an array of dazzling colours. However, it was not a party for everyone. More than 100,000 police officers have been drafted in to keep the Games safe, along with hundreds of thousands of security guards and volunteers. Security was particularly challenging because of the exposed location of the opening ceremony and authorities were forced to apologise for the inconvenience caused to local residents, whose lives were disrupted. The scale of the preparations for the ceremony drew parallels with the Beijing Olympics opener in 2008, which was highly acclaimed, but Guangzhou officials had been eager to set the two apart. "It's like one is coffee and the other is tea," ceremony director Chen Weiya, the assistant chief for the Beijing curtain raiser, told the China Daily. More than 10,000 athletes will be competing in 42 sports at the Games, the biggest Asiad ever, which end on November 27. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Russia urges 'any possible' dialogue with North Korea AFP - 1 hour 40 minutes ago Will Japan be an upbeat end to Obama's Asia trip? Reuters - 1 hour 52 minutes ago 'Breakthrough' ceremony opens Asian Games AFP - Saturday, November 13 China-US spat hobbles G20 push on world economy AFP - Saturday, November 13 Chinese vase fetches record 69 million dollars in Britain AFP - Saturday, November 13 News Search Top Stories Ireland has not asked for EU bailout: Juncker Russia's quarterly growth slows sharply due to drought Asian Games open with China set to dominate EU heavyweights move to calm bond markets German economy slows slightly after record bounce More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended EU fines 11 airlines 800 million euros for air cargo cartel DNA test raises doubts over Texas man's execution Boeing blames Dreamliner fire on faulty power panel Acrimony as EU budget negotiations collapse Irish bond rates hit record highs, fanning debt crisis fears More Most Viewed » Alcohol more harmful than heroin, crack cocaine: study Toddler survives seven-floor fall in France Spectacular unknown species found in Amazon EU fines 11 airlines 800 million euros for air cargo cartel Be fit, have fewer colds: study More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Saturday, 13 November 2010
Suicide car bomb targets foreign troops in Kabul
Some 200,000 at risk of cholera in Haiti, U.N. says |
James Murdoch says apps cannibalize newspapers
Russia's quarterly growth slows sharply due to drought
Qantas plane turns back after engine problem: report |
Asian Games open with China set to dominate
Mexico hunting 12-year-old drug gang hitman |
Lebanon gives absent Islamist leader life sentence |
Nigeria will report Iran if arms broke U.N. sanctions |
'Breakthrough' ceremony opens Asian Games
Chinese vase fetches record 69 million dollars in Britain
N.Korea 'giving nuclear material to Iran, Syria'
Laos summit sets targets on cluster bombs
UN refugee agency signals more fighting in Myanmar
Acer, Ferrari unveil joint smartphone model |
Finnish state church sanctions prayer for gay marriages
China's Hu makes first Japan visit since island row
Cyprus tourism income spikes 10 percent in September: data
Newsweek and Daily Beast agree merger |
Chinese dissident's release urged at peace summit
"Garfield" creator apologizes for Veterans Day strip
Fund manager Heebner turns back on Apple |
"Deathly Hallows" conjures up holiday movie season
Japan's Mizuho to buy BlackRock stake, sees profits soar
India's Power Grid issue oversubscribed nearly 15 times
India's Tata Steel turns Q2 net profit
Nvidia eyes higher sales, talks up Tegra |
Orlando Bloom, Beth Ditto win German Bambi awards |
Palin's email hacker gets one year in jail: US court
Newsweek, Daily Beast in old-new media marriage
WikiLeaks registers company in Iceland
US-TECH Summary
Nvidia eyes higher sales, talks up Tegra
Newsweek and Daily Beast agree merger
Acer, Ferrari unveil joint smartphone model
EU accepts Iran talks offer, suggests venue
EU official calls Roma's situation in Europe 'scandalous'
Junta silent as Myanmar awaits Suu Kyi release |
Oracle case winds down without HP CEO
Maliki faces dispute over Iraqi power-sharing deal
Taliban attack airport, base in east Afghanistan |
Zsa Zsa Gabor rushed to hospital for blood clot
Nigeria will report Iran if arms broke U.N. sanctions
Basque separatist leader renews 'rejection of violence'
Google and Facebook rivalry takes centerstage
Britain launches fresh drive on tax havens
Conan O'Brien Averages Nearly 3 Million Viewers For First Week Of "Conan"
U.N. council gets Sudan report that infuriated China |
Cisco hires former Apple executive Papermaster
After Fed boost, global woes hit Wall Street
Russia says open to missile defence cooperation with NATO
U.N. council gets Sudan report that infuriated China
Commodities Prices Fall On Chinese Interest Rates Fears
Facebook to revamp messaging service: source
'Naked' airport scanners may be 'dangerous'
Japan protesters rally during China's Hu visit |
Supreme Court Allows Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy to Continue
Radical Lebanon cleric Omar Bakri jailed for life
Obama mounts strong defence of US economic policy
Experts Predict Republican Opposition to Health Care Reform Law
Newsweek, Daily Beast in old-new media marriage
Pirates hijack ship with 29 Chinese sailors: report |
Lebanon gives absent Islamist leader life sentence
Ireland has not asked for EU bailout: Juncker
Palin Email Hacker Gets 366 Days In Jail
Facebook may be poised to launch email service
First Debate Of 2012 White House Race Set For Next Spring
Afghan officials: Kabul attack kills 1, wounds 2
Fund manager Heebner turns back on Apple
North Korea is building light-water reactor: report |
NYC Man Sues Former Landlords For $21M After A/C Unit Falls On Head
Hispanics Decry Tennessee Lawmaker's "Rats" Comment
Mexico hunting 12-year-old drug gang hitman |
Tennessee hacker of Sarah Palin's e-mail sentenced
Higher Corn Prices Mean Higher Turkey Prices As T-Day Approaches
Tight race in Guinea run-off as full results delayed |
Obama makes free trade push at Pacific Rim summit
French rail sorry for deporting Jews to Nazi camps
China 'lays down gauntlet' at Asian Games
Pirates seize ship with 29 Chinese sailors aboard: Xinhua
DiCaprio attacker pleads no contest to assault
Pacquiao hopes to extend legacy, streak against Margarito
Female directors absent on Forbes Hollywood list
U.S. high court declines to lift military ban on gays
Aquino welcomes Philippine credit rating hike
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
China-US spat hobbles G20 push on world economy
Philippines appeals to Myanmar ahead of Suu Kyi release
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Google and Facebook rivalry takes centerstage |
Chinese premier due in Macau for economic forum
Justin Bieber's new song, "Pray", debuts online
Suu Kyi supporters hope, pray for her freedom
Facebook to revamp messaging service: source |
DiCaprio attacker pleads no contest to assault
Toll from volatile Indonesian volcano rises to 240
Zsa Zsa Gabor hospitalized with blood clot
Oracle case winds down without HP CEO |
Chili Peppers dig up roots in "Oral/Visual History"
Cisco hires former Apple executive Papermaster |
Big sales projected for Michael Jackson album
Sarah Palin gets down and dirty in new TV show
Argentina, China shore up trade relations
Eastern Europe's first science centre wows in Poland
Cruise ship tourists back in Cuba after 3-year slump
Female directors absent on Forbes Hollywood list
DiCaprio attacker pleads no contest to assault |
Zsa Zsa Gabor hospitalized with blood clot |
Justin Bieber's new song, Pray, debuts online |
Sarah Palin gets down and dirty in new TV show |
Chili Peppers dig up roots in Oral/Visual History |
Deathly Hallows conjures up holiday movie season |
Female directors absent on Forbes Hollywood list |
Airbase attacked, 10 killed in Afghan market bombing
Taliban attack NATO base in east Afghanistan
Taliban mount series of attacks in Afghanistan |
Saudi king delegates deputy PM to oversee Hajj
Iraq's Allawi: power-sharing deal is dead |
Militants assault NATO base in eastern Afghanistan
Japan and China leaders aim to cool tensions |
U.S. Briefed Pakistan Indian U.N. Endorsement
Violence in Bangladesh as ex-PM ordered from home |
U.S. Hails Democracy In Iraq As Religious, Zonal Factions Get Active
Militants try to assault eastern Afghan airport
Pentagon Shaken, Secretary Condemns DADT Review Leak, Orders Probe
Militants battle Afghan forces in east
Nigerian military threatens action in delta |
Race tightens in Guinea presidential run-off |
US presence in Asia vital: Japan
US drone strike 'kills four militants in Pakistan'
Germany lifts passenger flight ban from Yemen |
Myanmar frees democracy icon Suu Kyi
China to speed rare earth exports to Japan
UK holiday camp company goes into administration
Japan PM protests Kurils visit in Medvedev talks
Indonesia volcano death toll rises to 240
Medvedev seeks to strengthen dialogue with Japan
UN chief hails 'inspiration' Aung San Suu Kyi
China rebuffs US pressure at Asian economic summit
Japanese scientists arrive to aid Indonesian volcanologists
US looking for progress on yuan by January
Don't ask too much of emerging economies, says China's Hu
Russia, Japan, China firms in massive fertiliser deal
Japan to open economy after lagging behind on free trade: PM
Aquino welcomes Philippine credit rating hike
Chinese leader vows open trade, stable currency
After G-20 rancor, Pac Rim leaders push free trade
Hu: China to keep open trade, keep currency stable
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01