Hangzhou Asian Games: Looking Forward to Dreams Blooming

Lei Zhongzhe, a current affairs commentator on China Net

On September 23rd, the highly anticipated 19th Asian Games kicked off in Hangzhou. Hangzhou became the third Chinese city to host the Asian Games after Beijing and Guangzhou. At that time, Hangzhou will showcase its new positioning as the "China New Era · Hangzhou New Asian Games" to the world, achieve the goal of "Chinese characteristics, Asian style, and splendid diversity", and interpret the concept of "green, intelligent, thrifty, and civilized" hosting.

"Green Asian Games" is one of the concepts and important goals of the Hangzhou Asian Games. It has been 73 years since the first Asian Games held in New Delhi, India in 1951. The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou is expected to become the first Asian Games in Asian Games history to achieve carbon neutrality. In order to achieve the "Green Asian Games", Hangzhou has implemented eight special actions, including the construction of green venues and the supply of green energy. All 56 Asian Games venues use green electricity for the competition, and the carbon dioxide emissions during the electricity production process are zero or approaching zero.

The rapidly approaching digital age provides more and better choices for large-scale sports events. In order to make the Hangzhou Asian Games smarter, Hangzhou has launched the first one-stop digital observation service platform in the history of the Asian Games - "Intelligent Asian Games One Stop". This is also the first of the international comprehensive sports games. This platform integrates various urban services around the six needs of "food, accommodation, transportation, tourism, shopping, and entertainment". It can provide guests from various countries with "one-stop" services from ticket purchase, travel, watching games to accommodation, food, and tourism, allowing them to have a brand new experience. In addition, the world's first Asian Games digital torch, digital torchbearers, digital mascots and other digital products, as well as the three-dimensional intelligent management system "Smart Venue Brain" that integrates operation and event support, will be innovatively launched, presenting the unique charm of Hangzhou as the "City of Innovation and Vitality".

Frugality is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation. China should not only demonstrate its due strength and responsibility to the world, but also showcase its frugal temperament and character to the world. Of the 56 competition venues at the Hangzhou Asian Games, 44 were renovated, renovated, or temporarily constructed. The Hangzhou University of Electronic Science and Technology Gymnasium, which is responsible for fencing competitions, has more than 5000 seats that have been dismantled, cleaned, and put back into their original positions. During the testing competition, the Linping Sports Center venue group in Linping District, Hangzhou City distributed portable water cups to relevant staff. Staff can fetch water as needed, which not only avoids waste of water resources but also reduces the recycling of discarded empty bottles, saving considerable manpower and financial resources. Details best reflect the organizer's care and attention to detail.

Sports are a unique symbol of human civilization. Sports enthusiasts from over 40 countries and regions in Asia gathered together, making Hangzhou a great platform for cultural integration and mutual learning. As the host city, Hangzhou aims to showcase its profound cultural heritage, showcase its open and civilized state of etiquette, and showcase the charm of its ancient cultural capital. In terms of creating a soft environment, the Civilized Asian Games Citizen Handbook has already been released, providing detailed explanations and regulations on entry and exit etiquette, mobile phone usage etiquette, etc. In terms of hard environment construction, Hangzhou continues to enhance its urban beauty, with a 516 kilometer rail transit network, 480 kilometers of expressways, 39 city entrances, and 215 Asian Games commuting roads to enhance its appearance and welcome guests. The theme slogan of "Heart to Heart Integration @ Future", as well as the mascots "Congcong", "Lianlian", and "Chenchen" of the Liangzhu Ancient City Site, West Lake, and the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal, are all vivid elements showcasing civilization.

One of the most ceremonial activities of large-scale comprehensive international sports events is the collection, transmission, and lighting of torches at the opening ceremony. The torch symbolizes light, unity, friendship, peace, and justice, embodying the most beautiful emotions of humanity. It is a carrier and symbol of sports spirit. The Olympic flame collection ceremony always gives people a feeling of holiness, solemnity, and solemnity. Similarly, the torch of the Hangzhou Asian Games, named "Huohuo" with the profound meaning of "inheritance", was collected from the Damojiao Mountain in the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins Park of Hangzhou, with sufficient weight and profound significance. The Liangzhu Site is a holy land that proves the 5000 year history of Chinese civilization. It is the earliest country discovered on the land of China and also the earliest cultural relic in East Asia. As one of the important sources of Chinese civilization, Liangzhu culture has rewritten both Chinese and world history, and is widely recognized as a "highland" by the world.

In the morning light, on the corridor, the quiet arena searches for the direction to move forward... Accompanied by the melody of "Burning" and the expectations of millions of viewers, the Asian Games torch relay has now progressed more than halfway and is proceeding smoothly and orderly. Adhering to the concept of hosting the Hangzhou Asian Games, this torch relay route focuses on simplicity and moderate scale. Starting from Hangzhou, passing through Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Taizhou, Wenzhou, Lishui, Jinhua, Quzhou and other places, and finally returning to Hangzhou to complete the final stop of the transmission. More than 2000 torchbearers of the Hangzhou Asian Games, with the youngest being 14 years old and the oldest being 84 years old. They come from grassroots frontline representatives, representatives of advanced model figures, and representatives of sports workers. Widely participated by various sectors of society, ultimately relay the Hangzhou Asian Games torch. Asian athletes, holding hands and shoulder to shoulder, "From now to the future, running forward, never giving up until the future, we look forward to our dreams blooming..."

Editor and Reviewer: Gao Peining, Tang Hua, Zhang Yanling