Boffo Ending to Massive Asian Games

So Long, Farewell …

Boffo Ending to Massive Asian Games Puts Guangzhou on World Map

GUANGZHOU, China - November 27, 2010 - The 16th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en), part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), comes to a close today with Guangzhou taking its place as a major world destination.

The Asian Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games.

During tonight’s Closing Ceremony on Haixinsha Island, the theme will be “Please Leave Your Song Behind”, echoing the theme of the Opening Ceremony. The Asian Games flag handover ceremony will also take place in the Closing Ceremony from Guangzhou to the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee.

Team China dominated the medal count of The 16th Asian Games with more than 400 medals. Korea finished second with more than 230 team medals and Team Japan ended with more than 210 medals.

Prior to tonight’s Closing Ceremony, Mr. Xu Ruisheng, Executive Deputy Secretary General of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee was effusive in his praise of Games organizers:

* He denoted that the Guangzhou Asian Games was the largest in OCA history with 9,704 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions attended the Games along with 4,983 team officials, 4,191 technical officials and 9,939 media professionals from 888 media organizations.

* Medalists came from 36 NOC delegations … with gold medals won by 28 of the countries and regions taking part.

* As of November 26, two athletes broke three World Records three times; one athlete equaling one World Record one time and one team with nine athletes broke 12 Asian Games records 14 times.

* A total 1,400 random doping tests have been carried out, including both urine tests and blood tests with only two positive test results.

* The Transport Service Dispatch Centre setup 492 bus lines in total for the needs of arrival and departure, competition or media reporting. Among these lines, there were 213 lines for athletes, 162 for the technical officials and 117 for the media.

* More than 60,000 Games-time volunteers worked at 53 competition venues, 11 non-competition venues, more than 16 independent training venues and 20 specialized work teams, providing variety of services, such as protocol reception, language services, security, medical services, spectator services, coordination and liaison, competition support, venue operation support, finance management and cultural event support for the Games.

About The 16th Asian Games

The 16th Asian Games (www.gz2010.cn/en) was approved and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia and was held in “Flower City” of Guangzhou from November 12 - 27, 2010. More than 14,000 athletes and team officials from 45 countries and regions competed in 42 sports. More than 9,900 accredited and non-accredited worldwide media were on hand to cover the Games with more than two million spectators in attendance.

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