Sri Lanka to take part in four sports:

Colourful opening ceremony for Asian Indoor Games

Bernard PERERA in Macau

The second Asian Indoor Games opened here in Macau with a colourful ceremony with the participation of 45 Asian countries. The opening ceremony which began at 7.30 p.m. depicted Macau’s cultural heritage.

For this purpose nearly 10,000 schoolchildren were engaged in many displays which caught the eyes of a packed stadium.

The schedule began with a musical show lasting half an hour and the day’s proceedings got off the ground with the launching of the logo for the Games.

Then followed the pageant of the children.

The chief guest was the head of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Reggae.

Who takes a great interest in the Asian sports.

Also was present with the President of the President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheik Ahmad Al-Fadah Al-Sabah.

The participating teams were seen marching to the stage before the Chairman of the Macau Asian Indoor Games Organising Committee addressed the gathering in Chinese.

It was notable to see both Koreas North and South walking to the stage separately holding their flags.

The biggest contingents were from China, India, South Korea and the host country Macau.

The forty-five countries will engage in seventeen sports disciplines within a period of seven days.

The Events the participants are to compete are Gymnastics Dragon Dance, Futsal Football, Bowling, E-Sports, Sepak Takraw, Kabaddi, Short Course Swimming, Chess, Indoor Athletics, Cue Sports, Skate Board, Artistic Cycling, Kurash, Fins Swimming, Indoor Hockey. Basketball Cycling.

Sri Lanka will be represented in four Sports Athletics, Kabaddi, Cue Sports and Dance Sports.

This also happens to be the first occasion that Sri Lanka is exposed to the Dance Sport.

The duo who represent Sri Lanka are Kevin Nugera and Rukshani Fernando.

Two of them are expected come out for the first time today when the Games proper begins.

They are to be conducted in different venues scattered around the City of Macau.

The organisers have included Kabaddi as a demonstration sport with the intention of introducing the same for the future Indoor Games. It was also disclosed by an official that the third Asian Indoor Games 2009 bid has gone to Vietnam.

Vietnam who has won the bid have already begun their preparations and were seen in a promotional campaign in Macau.