Closing of the Asian Games

4th October Incheon, Korea:

There was more to celebrate than just the closing of the Asian Games in Incheon today. The closing of the 17th Incheon Asian Games today saw North Korea’s second powerful man, Hwang Pyong So sitting next to the South Korean Prime Minister Jung Hong Won at the Royal Box along with the many VIPs. North Korea decided to send three high officials on a rare visit to South Korea to attend the closing of the Asian Games and also hold highest-level inter-Korean talks.

At the end of the 17th Asiad in Incheon which saw 17 new World Records prospered a development of unification between the North and the South. This surprise visit from the top officials from the North marks the highest-level contact in almost a decade and elevates the hopes of development in their relationships and also enriches the core idea of the Asian Games of solidarity and promoting Co-operation and Unity within the Asian family.

The president of the Olympic Council of Asia, HH Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah in his closing remarks thanked the people of Korea, the Korean government, various stakeholders and the participating nations involved in making the games a success. “The time has come upon us to say goodbye to Incheon and Korea, the Asian Games is not only about winning medals but representing your country, trying your best and taking pride in your flag. It is about sportsmanship and fair play and about friendship and team spirit.”

Emotions ran high and low during the action packed 15 days where 9,500 athletes from 45 Asian countries competed for the 439 Gold medals up for grabs at the sporting spectacle. China topped the medals table with 151 gold medals, followed by South Korea’s 79 and Japan’s 47. In his closing remarks HH Shiekh Ahmad also extended his support to the participants and said “we must move on to the next level which is the Olympics and in order to do so the Olympic Council of Asia will always be there to support you.”

The closing ceremony also saw HH Sheikh Ahmad presenting awards to the winners of the Asian Kids Arts Competition and the Samsung MVP award to Kosuke Hagino, from Japan. The Japanese swimmer won 4 gold medals at the Incheon Games in 200m and 400m individual medley, 200m freestyle and 4x200mrelay races. He also won a silver medal in the 400m freestyle and 2 bronze medals in the 100m and the 200m backstroke races.

The Games flame was extinguished marking the end of the Asian Games at Incheon; however the celebrations continued with various Korean-pop stars like Sistar, CN Blue and Big Bang entertaining the crowd. The Incheon Asian Games which was successfully organized lived up to the expectations in promoting the theme of celebrating diversity in Asia.

The next Asian Games, the 18th edition, will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Hopefully we will see 18 new world records if not more then.

Anyong Korea, Salam Indonesia!