Moment of truth as Doha readies for Asian Games

ASIAN GAMES: After years of planning and billions of dollars in investment, the Asian Games officially opens Friday in the Qatari capital Doha with what is being billed as the most spectacular gala ceremony ever seen.

But the evening event is at the mercy of the elements, with heavy rain pounding the usually dry desert state.The extravagenza will go ahead regardless, organisers say, heralding the most ambitious Asian Games so far with more than 13,000 athletes from 39 countries angling for gold in 45 events.

The competition runs until December 15, with China heavily favoured to top the medal table. But it was dealt another blow Friday when big-name star, Japan's Olympic hammer champion Koji Murofushi, pulled out with a calf muscle injury.

It follows the withdrawl Thursday of two-time 3000 metres steeplechase world champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen with an Achilles injury.

The tiny Gulf state, home to just 700,000 people, most expatriate foreign workers, has pumped billions of dollars in transforming Doha for the Games with the country's rulers believing it will provide a lasting legacy.

From extravagant plans to host the 2016 Olympic Games to the more modest 2015 Asian Cup, to boosting tourism and cutting obesity, they insist that the spectacular infrastructure changes, many still in progress, will be of enormous benefit. But there have been teething problems from the outset.

Expatriate construction workers say contractors have failed to pay them while complaints surfaced Friday about "rude and unhelpful" officials."Some of the officials have been very rude and unhelpful at our training sessions," a spokesman for the Indian shooting team reporters.

DOHA, Friday, AFP