The 17th Asian Games opened in a multi-coloured blaze of fireworks and carefully crafted K-Pop routines on Friday, as athletes from the world’s most populous region came together in pursuit of gold and glory in South Korea.

An array of Olympians and regional sports stars will compete over 15 days of competition in Incheon where South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Olympic chief Thomas Bach were among the powerful figures watching a vivid opening ceremony.

Compete and perform based on fair play and respect. You are the heart and soul of the Games.

Athletes dressed in colourful national garb, sharp suits and comfortable tracksuits waved to a crowd of 60,000, who offered enthusiastic welcomes to delegations from 45 countries including the South’s belligerent neighbour, North Korea.

South Korean culture, known as the ‘Korean Wave’ or Hallyu, has swept through Asia in recent years generating billions of dollars in revenue from drama and pop music and Friday’s ceremony drew heavily on its influence.

Actress and model Lee Young-ae, the face of countless commercials across the region, lit the Asian Games cauldron and ‘Gangnam Style’ singer Psy delivered a rousing finale.

The ceremony, dubbed: ‘Dream of 4.5 billion people, One Asia,’ also featured traditional Korean performances of song, dance and poetry as athletes stood shoulder to shoulder behind the flags of 45 countries at the Incheon Asian Main Stadium.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, the president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), told the athletes: “We are delighted to welcome you and are looking forward to seeing you compete and perform based on fair play and respect.

From weightlifting to wushu, rowing to rugby sevens and swimming to sepaktakraw, the Games will showcase elite Asian talent in 36 sports, with the first of 439 gold medals to be awarded in the women’s 10 metre air pistol team event on Saturday.

Much of the attention will be focused on the pool where Olympic champions Sun Yang of China and South Korea’s homegrown hero Park Tae-hwan will meet in a series of freestyle duels.

China has topped the medals table at the last eight Asian Games and is expected to do so again, while the hosts’ target is finishing second, above fierce rivals Japan, for the fifth straight Asiad.

China’s vast delegation includes badminton great Lin Dan and London Olympic gold medallist Yi Shiwen while Japan expect great things from a swim team that took seven golds at the recent Pan Pacific Championships.

Olympic champions Yang Hak-seon and Lee Yong-dae will spearhead South Korea’s campaign for 90 golds on home soil in a Games that will also put Korea’s financial muscle and logistical capabilities to the test once again. -

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