The Asian Games mascots Photo: IC

To mark the 100-day countdown to the Hangzhou Asian Games on Thursday, the Asiad flame was lit in the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu ancient city in Zhejiang and the medal designs was revealed.

Nineteen flame collectors, dressed in white, made their way down city streets until one finally lit a torch from the rays of the sun using a magnifying glass. 

The 2022 Asian Games, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place in Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8. 

The city will become the third city in China to host Asia's premier sports event, after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, in 2010.

Final preparations for the games are fully underway. In keeping with green, smart, economical, and ethical planning, Hangzhou is pushing forward with high-quality preparations for venue construction, visual product, marketing programs, agenda detailing, and opening and closing ceremony considerations.

Along with a green and sustainable focus, Hangzhou is ready to host the 19th Asian Games with high-tech support, organizers said on Wednesday at a press conference.

Green energy sources, such as solar and wind power, have been widely implemented in all the Games venues. 

Furthermore, online services, digital products, and state-of-the-art facilities have been put in place, eagerly anticipating the arrival of participants from across Asia in approximately 100 days.

Hangzhou's metro line 19, adorned with the emblem and slogan of the 19th Asian Games, connects the city's railway stations and international airport, providing significant convenience for residents since its launch in 2022.

An Asian Games-themed lights show also embellished the Qiantang River in Hangzhou recently. 

The Asian Games mascots and other Asian Games cultural elements on the buildings illuminated the night, and the Hangzhou 2022 core graphics "Meeting the World" danced vividly, connecting the buildings on both banks to form a magnificent light and shadow picture.

Hangzhou residents also held a variety of colorful sports activities to carry on their enthusiasm for the Asian Games.

In the spirit of the Asian Games, friendly games-themed activities have been set up in which participants will win prizes, including fun running and other activities.

More than 100 scattered and beautiful rural courtyards from the surrounding villages of the Asian Games venues have also been included in the preparations ahead of the Games. "Since 2022, we have encouraged farmers to combine Asian Games elements to create unique courtyards, and village homestays have become fully infused with the Asian Games flavor," said a community official to local media sources. "Every Wednesday evening, the village also holds exchange activities, inviting masters to teach traditional handicrafts, and every household has posted their own Asian Games paper-cutting works." 

About 350 buildings on both sides of the Qiantang River have been connected to a unified control system for night lighting, and will perform a night light show during the Asian Games. 

Recently, many households received a proposal letter and a gift bag containing maintenance tools and flower seeds from the community that they can use to cultivate flowers to create a beautiful scenery for the Asian Games city.

Asian Games-themed decorations, posters, and slogans are seen on the streets of Hangzhou. Photo: VCG

 

An event is held in Hangzhou's Linping district on June 11, 2023, to welcome the Asian Games 100-day countdown. Photo: VCG VCG

 

A night view of the main venue, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium, which is currently one of the three sports stadiums in China with an 80,000-person sitting capacity Photo: VCG

 

One of the main football venues for the Asian Games, located in Shangcheng district, Hangzhou, holds a soccer match on June 13, 2023 to test the operation and all-round security of the venue. Photo: IC

 

Kids participate in an Asian Games-themed activity in Hangzhou on June 13, 2023. Photo: IC