2010 Asian Games

2010 Asian Games
Name	2010 Asian Games
Host city	Guangzhou
Nations	45
Athletes	9709
Events	476
Opening	12 November 2010
Closing	27 November 2010
Opened by	Hu Jintao
Stadium	Guangdong Olympic Stadium

2010 Asian Games were a continental multi-sport event held in Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China, featuring athletes from Asian National Olympic Committees competing in a programme reflecting Olympic and regional sports. The Games brought together competitors, officials, and spectators across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia in a city with major ports, transport hubs, and cultural heritage. The event had geopolitical, economic, and sporting significance for host province authorities, continental federations, and Asian Olympic bodies.

Background and host selection

Guangzhou was awarded the Games following a bidding process overseen by the Olympic Council of Asia and involved competing bids from cities like Amman and Seoul; the selection reflected China's previous hosting of the 1990 Games in Beijing and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The vote was influenced by proposals from municipal authorities, regional development plans, and commitments from the People's Republic of China central leadership, including the State Council of the People's Republic of China and the Guangdong Provincial Government. Key stakeholders in the bid included the Chinese Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and continental sports federations such as the Asian Football Confederation and the Asian Athletics Association.

Preparations and venues

Preparations were managed by the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee in coordination with the Guangdong Olympic Bureau, municipal transport agencies, and construction firms that had worked on projects for events like the 2010 Shanghai Expo and the 2008 Summer Paralympics. New venues included the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, an aquatics center, and multiple indoor arenas adapted from facilities used for Canton Fair exhibitions. Infrastructure upgrades encompassed expansions to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, high-speed rail links connected to the Beijing–Guangzhou railway, and urban projects in districts such as Tianhe and Haizhu. The volunteer programme drew personnel from local universities including Sun Yat-sen University and technical specialists from the Chinese Swimming Association and the Chinese Basketball Association.

Opening and closing ceremonies

The opening ceremony at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium featured cultural performances showcasing Cantonese heritage, contributions from artists associated with institutions like the China Central Television and choreographers experienced with the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, and an official proclamation by then-President Hu Jintao. Dignitaries in attendance included representatives from the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and heads of state or their envoys from participating National Olympic Committees such as the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Korean Olympic Committee. The closing ceremony celebrated medalists and handed over symbols to future hosts, with performances that involved choreographers who had collaborated with the Asian Games Federation and regional broadcasters.

Sports and participating nations

Athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees contested 476 events across 42 sports, including Olympic disciplines governed by the International Olympic Committee and regional sports overseen by federations like the Asian Cycling Confederation and the Asian Swimming Federation. Notable sports programmes featured athletics under the Asian Athletics Association, aquatics administered by the Asian Swimming Federation, badminton governed by the Badminton Asia Confederation, and football organized with input from the Asian Football Confederation. Traditional Asian sports such as wushu and sepak takraw were included alongside rowing, shooting under the Asian Shooting Confederation, and chess events associated with the Asian Chess Federation. Major participating delegations included the People's Republic of China national team, the Japan Olympic Committee delegation, the Korea Olympic Committee delegation, the India national team, and teams from the Islamic Republic of Iran national team and the Kazakhstan national team.

Medal table and notable results

The final medal standings were dominated by the host nation's delegation, with significant medal hauls by teams from Japan, South Korea, and Iran. Individual athletes who achieved continental prominence included champions from federations such as the International Judo Federation and the World Taekwondo Federation, while relay teams in athletics and swimming set Asian records recognized by the Asian Athletics Association and the Asian Swimming Federation. Emerging national programmes such as those of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan made breakthroughs in weightlifting overseen by the International Weightlifting Federation, and smaller delegations like Qatar and Bahrain earned notable medals in middle-distance events.

Controversies and incidents

Controversies during the Games involved disputes over officiating in sports governed by bodies like the International Judo Federation and the Asian Gymnastics Union, eligibility cases referred to the Olympic Council of Asia disciplinary panels, and protests related to accreditation handled by the Guangzhou organising committee. Health and safety incidents prompted coordination with public health authorities including the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and municipal hospitals, while venue readiness and transport delays attracted scrutiny from media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily. Doping cases were processed according to protocols of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Asian Anti-Doping Agency, leading to sanctions in line with international standards.

Category:Asian Games Category:Sport in Guangzhou Category:2010 in multi-sport events