Asian Games open in Aichi-Nagoya with celebration of sport and culture

The 20th Asian Games officially opened in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday. The opening ceremony combined music, dance, technology and local culture as athletes from across the continent gathered for Asia's biggest multi-sport event.

Athletes from 45 countries and regions across the continent took part in the parade of delegations at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.

China's delegation was led into the stadium by men's basketball player Hu Mingxuan and Olympic boxing champion Wu Yu, who served as flag-bearers. China, which topped the medal table four years ago with 201 gold and 383 overall podium finishes, has sent 815 athletes to compete in 369 events across 38 sports, with the squad featuring 36 Olympic champions. The delegation, containing a balance of youth and experience, has an average age of 24, while 548 members are making their Asian Games debuts.

The ceremony was staged around a heart-shaped main platform and the theme of "Harmonic Heart Beat", representing connections between people across Asia. Performances showcased the history and culture of Aichi and Nagoya while also drawing on the region's strong links to modern industry and technology.

The final torch relay provided one of the night's highlights. Six torch-bearers carried the flame through the stadium before Japanese hammer throw greats Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi climbed the steps together to light the cauldron. The elder Murofushi won five Asian Games titles, while Koji claimed Olympic gold at Athens 2004 in addition to two Asian Games titles.

Around 11,000 athletes are competing across 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 events at this year's Games, with competition being staged at 54 venues. Most are located in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, while Tokyo, Gifu, Shizuoka and Osaka are also hosting events.

Basketball, football, modern pentathlon, volleyball and several other sports had already begun before the opening ceremony.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games run until October 4. Japan is hosting the continental showpiece for the third time after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.