Guangzhou rites offer night of fantasy

GUANGZHOU, China – China’s third largest city will plunge into darkness tonight – for a short time – as it regales the rest of Asia with a mystery of light, a magical celebration highlighting the opening ceremonies of the XVI Asian Games.

Organizers promise this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Guangzhou’s 11 million residents and over 13,000 athletes and officials who will assemble starting at 3 p.m. and witness, by nightfall, another spectacle much like the Beijing Olympic rites.

The lighting ceremony is also “made for TV”, giving millions of TV viewers in Asia and the world a panoramic view of this industrial city on the Pearl River in a show of lights and sounds never seen before.

In time-honored traditions, hosting countries take pride in the creative way they light the Games sacred urn.

Games flames had long been lit by a runner – a celebrated athlete of the host country – at the end of a relay. The Barcelona Olympics sacred flame was lighted by an arrow fired from a distance. In Bejing, the Olympic torch was carried by an extra-terrestial alien gliding, as it were, through space at the top of the Bird’s Nest.

Tonight, the whole of Guangzhou will be relit in a flood of lights. Organizers said high-rise commercial buildings, 20-storey residential edifices – 3,696 in all – within an area of 200 square kilometers will bathe in the glow of light, with focus on the silhouette of Haixinsha Island, venue of the opening ceremonies.

The symbolic lighting of the urn will not be dispensed with, though. It is included on the program before the fireworks show at 9:15 p.m. Guangzhou will also dispense with the assembly formations before the ceremonies.

Instead, participants and officials will ride in 45 boats aboard the “Nanhai God” boat which sails a distance of 9,3 km in the Pearl River from Baiertan and anchor on Haixinsha Square.

Guangzhou’s “warm-up” performance starting at 7 p.m. includes scenario dance, cheering exercise and the non-stop playing of the Asian Games song.

The countdown to open the XVI Asian Games starts at 8 p.m. after which the boat sails into the night.