China’s Asian Games Town ready ahead of time
September 22nd, 2010 - 3:07 pm ICT by IANSBeijing, Sep 22 (IANS) As India works feverishly to prepare for the Commonwealth Games that begin Oct 3, Asian Games Town with 8,000 apartments in China’s Guangzhou city is complete and has been handed over to the organising committee nearly two months ahead of the sporting event.
Asian Games Town, which took more than two years to construct, has been formally handed over to the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, China Daily reported Wednesday.
The town is ready to accommodate an estimated 40,000 athletes, coaches, technical officials and members of the media from around the world. It has been built on the banks of Pearl River tributaries and is spread over 2.73 sq km.
The 16th Asian Games are from Nov 12 to 27.
Besides an athletes’ village with 13 apartment buildings, the town has a media village, technical officials’ village, international broadcast center and a main press center.
Xu Ruisheng, vice-mayor of Guangzhou and executive deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee, said: “The coming Asian Games will serve as a showcase for China’s Lingnan culture that thrives in Guangdong and other parts of south China.”
Yuko Arakida, a former Japanese Olympian, heaped praise on the Games Town after she visited it.
“I think the facilities for the athletes at the Asian Games are much better than at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. There is lots of green and it is a very good environment for the athletes,” Arakida was quoted as saying.
An Asian Games traffic lane has also been earmarked to reduce travel time to competition and training venues during the Games.
The town has been aesthetically developed with riverside communities and tropical trees giving it an ambience typical of south China.
Over 63 percent of the town has been covered in greenery and tropical trees and fruit plants are now being planted.
Tang Ruping, director of committee’s service department, said: “The Guangzhou Asian Games will make every guest feel at home with the best service and the most hospitable reception.”
The Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi Oct 3-14 has come in for criticism for lack of preparedness. Hygiene issues have dogged the Games Village which is to house the athletes.
- China's Guangzhou city ready to host Asian Games, as Delhi struggles with CWG 2010 - Jul 27, 2010
- China guarantees overseas media rights to cover Asian Games - Aug 03, 2010
- OCA president arrives for biggest ever Asian Games - Nov 12, 2010
- Room for Hindu prayers at Guangzhou Asian Games in China - Nov 09, 2010
- Unlike Guangzhou, New Delhi still not prepared for media accreditation of CWG - Jul 28, 2010
- OCA director general praises Guangzhou's contribution to Asiad - Nov 12, 2010
- Guangzhou says ready for Asian Games, while Delhi struggles with CWG - Aug 04, 2010
- Asiad Daily to promote November Games, Guangzhou 60-days before opening - Sep 14, 2010
- The 16th Asian Games Heads Into Final Prep Phase With Chefs de Mission Seminar - Nov 11, 2009
- Cricket should be included in Asian Games: M S Gill - Jun 02, 2010
- Suresh Kalmadi slams BCCI for not sending cricket team to Asian Games - Jun 02, 2010
- Guangzhou Asian Games to have service centre for various religions - Mar 23, 2010
- Asian Games begin with another awesome Chinese masterpiece (Roundup) - Nov 12, 2010
- Olympics: India on a medal count - Jul 27, 2012
- Boat parade kicks off Asian Games opening night - Nov 12, 2010
Tags: 16th asian games, apartment buildings, athletes village, broadcast center, china daily, commonwealth games, deputy secretary general, fruit plants, guangzhou city, international broadcast, lingnan, olympic games, river tributaries, south china, summer olympic games, technical officials, traffic lane, training venues, tropical trees, vice mayor