Hangzhou, China – Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the 19th Asian Games in a colourful ceremony in Hangzhou on Saturday, launching a two-week sporting extravaganza that boasts more athletes than the Olympics.

After being delayed by a year because of China’s now-abandoned zero-COVID policy, more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories will battle it out in 40 sports.

In front of Syrian President Bashar al Assad and other visiting leaders, Xi officially opened the games at the 80,000-capacity Hangzhou Olympic stadium, also known as the Big Lotus.

At the opening, the Omani contingent stood out with athletes donning the traditional dishdasha. The national flag was carried by Sami al Lun of the hockey team and Ibrahim al Muqbali from the shooting squad. Representing Oman were H E Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Undersecretary for Sports and Youth in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth; H E Nasser bin Mohammed al Busaidi, Oman’s Ambassador to China; and Taha al Kishry, Secretary-General of Oman Olympic Committee.

Raja Randhir Singh, Acting President of Olympic Council of Asia, told a cheering crowd. “The one-year postponement was unprecedented in OCA history.”