The Winter Asian Games, the largest festival for 4.7 billion Asians, has returned after 8 years. For the opening ceremony of this Asian Games, taking place in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China mobilized advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR).
According to reports from Chinese state media Xinhuanet on the 7th, the opening ceremony of the 8th Harbin Winter Asian Games will be held at 8 p.m. (local time) at the Harbin International Convention and Exhibition Sports Center. This marks the first Winter Asian Games in 8 years since the 2017 Sapporo Games. It was originally scheduled for 2021 but was canceled due to difficulties in selecting a host city and the impact of COVID-19.
The venue for this year's competition was only decided in July 2023. China had just 1 year and 7 months. However, having recently hosted the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the 2022 Hangzhou Summer Asian Games in 2023, it is noted that significant expertise has been accumulated. Husain Al Musallam, Secretary General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), said, 'During a preparation period of less than two years, Harbin strictly adhered to all requirements of the event at both the city and facility levels,' adding that 'the project was completed very efficiently and professionally in a short time.'
The opening ceremony will last for 80 minutes under the theme 'A Dream Shared by Ice and Snow, One Heart in Asia (氷雪同心, 亞洲同心).' Director Xia Xiaolan, who oversaw the closing ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Hangzhou Summer Asian Games, will direct the event once again. The previous day, state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported, 'After about a year of planning and over 40 revisions, we are in the final stages of the opening ceremony rehearsal.'
Notably, the Chinese side explains that advanced technologies have been extensively utilized for this opening ceremony. Wu Yan, chief producer of the Harbin Winter Asian Games opening and closing ceremonies, explained, 'Through the power of technology, we achieved a clean, safe, and colorful presentation,' stating that 'AR, multimedia, and science and technology have created a multidimensional indoor space, allowing people to appreciate the beauty of ice and snow, as well as the beauty of art up close.' The 1.2 million small snowflakes installed on the ceiling were also noted as one of the highlights of the opening ceremony.
Since this is being held for the first time in 8 years, this competition will also feature the largest number of participants ever. Over 1,200 athletes from 34 Asian countries and regions have registered. Cambodia and Saudi Arabia are participating in the Winter Asian Games for the first time. North Korea will also compete in a comprehensive winter international competition for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, with 3 athletes participating only in figure skating. South Korea is sending a total of 222 athletes to this event.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, who has been visiting China since the 5th, is expected to attend the opening ceremony in Harbin, raising interest in a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The day before, Speaker Woo met with a group of Korean correspondents in Beijing, mentioning, 'There may be an opportunity to meet (Xi Jinping).' Should a meeting occur, it is planned to convey South Korea's stability and request attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju this year, as well as to discuss the lifting of the Korean Wave restrictions and issues faced by corporations.