Beijing, January 12 (Xinhua) -- With a countdown of 100 days, preparations for the Asian Games have entered their final sprint - the State Council Information Office's press conference focuses on the preparations for the Asian Games

Xinhua News Agency reporters Ding Wenxian, Zhao Yingquan, Liu Bo

The 6th Asian Beach Games will be held in Sanya, Hainan from April 22nd to 30th. On the occasion of the 100 day countdown to the opening of the event, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on the 12th to introduce the preparations for the Asian Games.

This will be the first international large-scale comprehensive sports event after the island wide closure of Hainan Free Trade Port. It is reported that the preparation for the competition has entered the sprint stage, highlighting elements such as green and technology; The Chinese sports delegation will participate in 13 major events, some of which will be assigned as Olympic training tasks.

On January 12th, the State Council Information Office held a press conference in Beijing. Li Jing, Vice Chairman of the Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee and Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, Xie Jing, Vice Chairman of the Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee and Vice Governor of Hainan Province, and Chen Xi, Secretary General of the Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee and Mayor of Sanya, introduced the preparations for the 6th Asian Beach Games and answered questions from reporters. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Tang Rufeng

Sports such as beach volleyball and swimming are being trained for the Olympics

The Sanya Asian Games is the second time that China has hosted the Asian Games after Haiyang in 2012, and it is also the first time that Hainan Province has hosted an international comprehensive sports event. There are 14 major events, 15 sub events, and 63 sub events, including swimming, sailing, and other permanent Olympic and Asian Games events, as well as emerging events such as polo and beach cabaret.

Li Jing, Vice Chairman of the Asian Games Organizing Committee and Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, introduced that 3798 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions have completed their first registration, and the second registration will be conducted from January 10th to February 10th. Starting from January 16th, test races for sailing, beach volleyball, table tennis, and running events will be held one after another to comprehensively inspect venue operations, equipment and facilities, local support, command and dispatch, and other work.

Li Jing stated that the Chinese sports delegation expects 190 athletes to participate in 13 major events and 61 minor events, except for beach cabaret. Among them, beach volleyball, rock climbing, three person basketball, swimming, sailing and other events will be targeted for practical training at the Los Angeles Olympics, playing an important role in discovering talents, training teams, and testing the effectiveness of preparations; Loong Boat, beach track and field, beach handball and other gold medal events of the Asian Games will strive to achieve better results; Emerging projects such as jujitsu and taiko will encourage social forces to actively participate and explore beneficial models for the diversified development of the sports industry.

Sanya Asian Beach Games medal. Image source: Sanya Asian Sand Festival official website

Green and technological elements are highlighted

Li Jing introduced that the concept of "green, sharing, openness, and integrity" and the requirements of "simplicity, safety, and excitement" run through the entire process of preparing for the Asian Games.

Xie Jing, Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Asian Sand Expo and Vice Governor of Hainan Province, stated that the preparation work has entered the final sprint stage. Plan and layout 8 competition venues to form a spatial pattern of "coastal+urban", and venue construction is gradually being completed.

The concept of green competition is highlighted in the details. Chen Xi, Secretary General of the Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee and Mayor of Sanya City, introduced that all competition venues have been renovated and upgraded through existing facilities, or temporary facilities have been built; All over 1000 race support vehicles are equipped with new energy vehicles.

Integrating technological elements into event services. Such as creating intelligent systems for registration management, competition registration, and arrival and departure services; Activate Hainan's first 5G emergency rescue system project, which can achieve remote emergency data collection, real-time tracking of ambulance routes, and other functions; Launch embodied intelligent robots to provide intelligent services such as event support, catering assistance, and beach cleaning; Expand the application of drones and create an "aerial release platform" for sports events.

At present, the Hainan Free Trade Port has been closed and operated throughout the island. Xie Jing stated that personnel entry and exit have become more convenient and efficient, material clearance has become more free and efficient, and the city's internationalization level and comprehensive security capabilities have been comprehensively improved, all of which have added support to the hosting of the Asian Sand Expo.

She introduced that during the competition, the organizing committee will set up dedicated channels for the Asian Sand Club at three major airports, including Sanya Phoenix International Airport, to provide customs clearance assistance, process guidance, and transportation shuttle services; The customs will set up a dedicated window for the clearance of materials, equipment, and technical equipment for the Asian Sand Games to facilitate the clearance of goods.

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A yacht (drone photo) taken in the waters of Phoenix Island, Sanya, Hainan on January 1st. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Ye Longbin)

The opening and closing ceremonies were held with the sea and sky as the curtains

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Asia Sand Expo will be held at the Asia Sand Park in Tianya Haijiao, Sanya. Chen Xi said that there should not be too many spoilers yet.

The main venue of the opening and closing ceremonies, which we have created in a realistic and immersive way, will be the core highlight. Leveraging the natural advantage of the "sea and sky in one color" at the ends of the earth, with the sea and sky as the curtain and the beach as the stage, we will integrate the natural elements of the island into the texture of the performance, with the sunshine, beach, sun, moon, and stars all in it. The sunset glow and stage lighting complement each other, forming a very unique coastal real-life experience, "said Chen Xi.

The visual image and opening and closing ceremony design of this tournament deeply integrate regional culture and sports spirit. The emblem outlines the number "6" with color blocks, corresponding to the ocean, rainforest, beach, and sunshine, and incorporates the deer image symbolizing the openness and inclusiveness of Sanya's "Deer City". The mascot "Yaya" is based on the Hainan spotted deer, showcasing its athletic vitality. The promotional slogan "See ya in Sanya" is inspired by Hainan folk songs and sends a warm invitation to Asia.

Chen Xi introduced that the cultural and sports performances at the opening and closing ceremonies will present a multi-dimensional picture of Asian civilization exchange and mutual learning; And from the perspectives of humanistic sentiment, green ecology, and the development of the times, the narrative focuses on the exchange of Asian youth and people to people connectivity, integrating into the achievements of the open free trade port, and presenting the picture of "connecting Asia and dialogue with the world".

A licensed product based on the mascot "Yaya" of Sanya Asian Sand Festival. Image source: Sanya Asian Sand Festival official website

Promote the deep integration of culture, sports and tourism

Hainan has unique tourism and cultural resources. Xie Jing introduced that various cultural exchange activities will be organized during the event, including interactive experiences of Hainan intangible cultural heritage, exhibitions of Li and Miao ethnic customs, beach concerts, etc., in core areas such as the athlete village and the Tianya Haixia Yasha Park, to promote Chinese culture and Yasha culture.

She stated that Hainan will closely integrate with the construction of the International Tourism Island Consumption Center and deepen the integration of "sports+tourism". We will use the Asian Sand Festival as a link to connect the unique tourism resources of the entire island, and launch a boutique route of 'watching the competition+roaming' throughout the island, allowing the audience and athletes to immerse themselves in the beauty of the island scenery, the wonder of the tropical rainforest, the show of Li Miao culture, and the joy of duty-free shopping during the competition

Promoting universal sharing and increasing public participation is an important goal of hosting this Asian Games. Xie Jing introduced that the organizing committee is creating a participatory atmosphere for the whole nation through various forms such as Yasha themed lectures, fun experiences of competition projects, interactive check-in of mascots, and "Yasha entering the campus".

Large international sports events have a strong agglomeration effect. This year's Asian Games is not only a stage for sports competition, but also a focus on a large number of people, logistics, funds, and information flows in Hainan, which is of great significance for promoting Hainan's economic and social development, "said Xie Jing.

Editor: Chen Luyi