The pride of the past and the might of the future converging in the present in a spectacle grand enough to put any doubts on China’s ability to put on a show to rest — the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games here was as much about China showcasing itself in a post-Covid era as the much-delayed Games and sports themselves.
The show, lasting just over 100 minutes, was an extension of the all-pervasive technology seen across the city that prides itself on being the greenest in the country with the tagline ‘Paradise on Earth’. Not surprisingly, nature in all its forms including greenery and harvest figured heavily in the performances. “All the technology, props and programmes will help us present the rich history and culture of Hangzhou and Zhejiang,” the ceremony’s chief director Sha Xialan has been quoted as saying and it perfectly sums up the confluence of past and future on Saturday evening.
