8th Asian Winter Games open in Japan’s Sapporo
CULTURE
By Wang Lei

2017-02-19 22:38:09

2102km to Beijing

The curtain was raised on the 8th Asian Winter Games at the Sapporo Dome in Japan on Sunday afternoon.
Naruhito, crown prince of Japan, declared the opening of the Games after the president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, delivered a speech.
The delegation of China march in during the opening ceremony of the 8th Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, northern Japan on February 19, 2017.  /Xinhua Photo
It is the third time Sapporo hosts the Asian Winter Games. The speed skating events of this edition will be held in Obihiro.
The 8th Asian Winter Games will feature five sports, 11 disciplines and 64 events, and are expected to be the largest ever, attracting around 1,500 participants from 30 countries and regions.
Australia and New Zealand are making their first appearance at the Games after accepting an invitation from the Olympic Council of Asia. Since Oceania does not have a regional Winter Games, this is also the two countries' first time competing on snow and ice at a continental event.
Japan has 146 athletes competing in the Games and is aiming for a top finish, as in the past seven editions of the Asian Winter Games, the host country has topped the final medal table six times.
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the 8th Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, northern Japan on February 19, 2017. /Xinhua Photo
The first gold medal of the Games was won by the host country earlier on Sunday. Eri Yanetani claimed the women's snowboard giant slalom title. China's Zang Ruxin and Gong Naiying took the second and third place in the event, respectively, winning two medals for China.
China sent a 236-member delegation including 157 athletes to the Asian Winter Games. The Chinese athletes will compete in all the 64 events. Short-track speed skater Wu Dajing carried China's national flag at the opening ceremony.
Gold medalist Eri Yanetani (C) of Japan, silver medalist Zang Ruxin (R) of China and bronze medalist Gong Naiying of China take part in the medal ceremony for women's snowboard giant slalom event during the opening ceremony. /CFP Photo
The 7th edition of the Asian Winter Games was hosted by Almaty, Kazakhstan, where China ranked in fourth place and the hosts topped the medal table for the first time. Japan and South Korea came second and third respectively.
In a highlight of the opening ceremony, former Japanese ski jumper Masahiko Harada, who helped his country win team gold at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympic Games, lit the games' cauldron. 
(Source: Xinhua)
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