China’s artistry of lighting Games torch dazzles
November 12th, 2010 - 11:13 pm ICT by IANSGuangzhou, Nov 12 (IANS) In a brilliantly executed display, China’s Olympic diving champion He Chong ignited a giant firecracker whose flame shot up and lit the cauldron during the opening ceremony of the Asian Games at the Haixinsha Island here Friday.
The torch, first lit on the Great Wall of China, arrived, in the hands of dragonboat athlete Wu Guochong and was handed over to Chen Yi Ping, an Olympic and Asian record holding gymnast. It was then passed on to a famous Chinese yesteryear football player, who again handed it to China’s Olympic table tennis gold medallist Deng Ya Ping.
Finally world champion diver Chong along with two local kids Xiong Yuxiang and Chen Jiayu light a big firecracker that lit the main cauldron.
Two years ago at the Beijing Olympics, China also left the world spellbound with the artistry of lighting the torch when former champion gymnast Li Ning was hoisted high above the crowd on a wire and ‘ran’ a lap around the rim of the stadium. Lighting a giant fuse, he ignited the colossal torch, which had been hidden from view and was lowered into place moments before the climax.
- Asian Games begin with another awesome Chinese masterpiece (Roundup) - Nov 12, 2010
- Olympic flame lit in Greece (Lead) - May 10, 2012
- Olympic Flame reaches Acropolis for handover ceremony - May 17, 2012
- China wows world with breathtaking Asian Games opening (Intro Roundup) - Nov 12, 2010
- Drogba to run in Olympic torch relay - May 23, 2012
- Flame for Innsbruck 2012 Youth Olympics lit in Athens - Dec 18, 2011
- Asian Games to kick-off with water-themed ceremony - Nov 11, 2010
- Olympic flame arrives in Britain - May 19, 2012
- Air-borne Li Ning lights Olympic cauldron - Aug 08, 2008
- Top divers to compete in World Cup and Olympic test - Feb 18, 2012
- Lighting Of Olympic Cauldron Not Without A Bit Of Malfunction - Feb 14, 2010
- 2012 Olympic torch lit in Ancient Olympia - May 10, 2012
- Saina moves to elimination round of Super Series Finals - Dec 15, 2011
- Saina reaches final, will attempt hat-trick of Indonesia Open titles (Lead) - Jun 25, 2011
- London 2012 organizers confirm route for Olympic Flame - Mar 19, 2012
Tags: artistry, asian games, beijing olympics, cauldron, champion gymnast, deng, firecracker, football player, gold medallist, great wall of china, guangzhou, jiayu, li ning, lighting the torch, olympic diving, olympic table tennis, opening ceremony, wall of china, world champion, yuxiang