Opening Ceremony: Huge performance kicks off competition

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Europe

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The opening ceremony of the 2018 Jakarta & Palembang Asian Games marked the official start of this continent's biggest sports event. The gala reflected the importance of the quadrennial multi-sport spectacle with many memorable highlights. Daniel Plafker has the details.

One hour before the opening ceremony began, athletes are ready and in line to march the GBK stadium. The competitors from 45 countries and regions already start to celebrate with singing, dancing, and simply enjoying the moment.

ZHU MINGYE & CHEN QINGYUAN CHINESE FENCERS "I am very happy to participate in Asian Games. This is my first time in Asian Games and I really enjoy it."

After more than two hours, the ceremony ends with a display of fireworks. Spectators were left impressed by the show with some of the more popular highlights being the lighting of the Games torch and the president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, arriving on a motorcycle.

CHINESE SPECTATORS "Lighting the torch was the most impressive segment. The stage and the fireworks are so beautiful."

Sports are able to help people rise about differences and put aside conflict as athletes come together in Jakarta to represent their nations. This is most clearly illustrated by South Korea and the DPRK marching together under the Unified Korea flag and taking pictures to remember the moment. Syrian and Iraqi athletes also sing and dance while marching. This is the spirit of sports.

"Let's go Singapore. Go China."