The Hindu : Curtain rung down on Busan extravaganza

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

Sport

Sport - Asian Games

Curtain rung down on Busan extravaganza

By A. Vinod

THE CELEBRITY: Japanese swimmer Kitajima Kosuke who bagged the `Most Valueable Player' award at the 14th Asian Games, poses with the trophy during the closing ceremony on Monday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

BUSAN Oct. 15. The magnificent show of the last 16 days which portrayed in full the dreams and aspirations of the youth of Asia passed into the recess of history as the biggest ever Asian Games came to a close here on Monday in an atmosphere soaked with friendship and camaraderie.

And finally as the curtain of the quadrennial extravaganza was rung down at the Busan Asian Games main stadium with the solemn pledge of meeting one and all again at Doha, Qatar, in 2006, there was a tear in almost every eye as the participants bid goodbye to South Korea's second largest city with a heavy heart.

When compared with the opening ceremony on September 29, the grand finale would have fallen short of expectations.

But still there was enough of dance, music and warmth as every segment of the 70-minute closing ceremony was consciously crafted to reflect the mood of the occasion.

Divided into three parts, the cultural panorama with the Games mascot, Duria, as the principal character was focussed on lighting up the road for all the athletes and officials to tread back home, with prayers for safety during their long journey.

Titled, ``Homecoming,'' the presentation involved the participation of nearly 5,000 dancers and drummers not to leave out the host of singers and volunteers who had strove hard to make the programme a grand spectacle for nearly six months now.

After a brief prelude, that started off with a group of children full of curiosity making their way into the centre and enacting a drama as if involving themselves in a sporting competition to accompaniment of the traditional Korean drum and the popular folk song, ``Arirang,'' the stage was set for the protocol part of the ceremony to commence.

The arrival of the athletes and officials simultaneously through two opposite gates of the stadium was marked by a standing ovation from the crowd, numbering 53,000. The tempo having been thus set, the assembly of the participants was followed by hoisting of the OCA flag as also the pennants of South Korea and Qatar, the next host country.

In a short speech thereafter, Mr. Chung Soon-Taek, the chairman of the Busan Asian Games Organising Committee, emphasised that the 14th Asian Games had proved to be successful in bringing together the continent's 3.7 billion in a celebration of peace and reconciliation. ``The efforts of Asian people to create a brighter future will go on,'' he said.

Referring to a possible reunion of South and North Korea in the none-too-distant future, he further stated: ``The friendship and brotherly love created between the people of South and North Korea during these Games make this parting all the more poignant.''

Mr. Samih Moudallal, the senior vice-president of the OCA, deputising for the OCA president, Sheik Ahamad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, presented the OCA appreciation award to the Busan City Mayor, Mr. Ahn Sang-Young, and then declared the Games closed with a call to the youth of Asia to once again assemble and celebrate the 15th Asian Games at Doha in 2006.

``With feelings of happiness and pride, we are coming to the end of two exciting weeks of competition, friendship and glory.

Yet, these feelings carry with them a touch of sadness of departing and moments of reflection on new friends, new achievements and new insights that will take us to new horizons.''

Busan to bid for 2016 Olympics

Accepting the OCA award on behalf of the people of Busan and the thousands of volunteers who had worked hard day and night to make the Games a success, Mr. Ahn Sang-Young, described the dedicated service from the volunteers as ``precious as jewels.''

Also outlining the future plans of making the city a truly global one, the Mayor declared that Busan will vie to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The Asian Games MVP award, sponsored by electronic giant Samsung, was presented to the Japanese swimmer, Kosuke Kitajima, who had smashed the oldest world-record in swimming, the men's 200m breaststroke, earlier this month. He was chosen for the prestigious award by a vote of 1,082 journalists covering the Games. Besides, Kitajima's superb effort the Games had also seen 21 other world records, 43 Asian records and 242 Games records being broken, proving that the Games were not only a celebration of friendship but also a significant platform for the advancement of sports in the continent.

The Asian Games flag, first raised at the 1951 inaugural Games in New Delhi, and the OCA flag and torch was then handed over to Sheik Tamin Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the president of the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee by the Busan Mayor. The Games flag was then lowered and taken out of the stadium by eight members of the city police before the sacred flame was extinguished.

This also marked the end of the routine part of the function and the stage was once again set for the artistes to take over. The highlight of the post-ceremony events was a dance presentation by a children's dance troupe from Qatar and the illustration of the theme, "One Asia'' through a cymbal and drum dance presentation which symbolised again the collective yearning of the people of the continent for unity. The grand spectacle drew to a close when a spaceship soaring upward into the night sky, amid a spectacular display of fire-works, released the Games mascot, Duria, and colourful banners saying, ``Goodbye, Busan, See You in Doha.'' The air, filled with clouds of smoke, was also soaked with a tinge of sadness.

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