Hangzhou, the eastern city of China, wrapped up the 19th Asian Games with a vibrant closing ceremony that celebrated the theme of “joy.” This marked the culmination of a continental sporting extravaganza, which organizers lauded as “one of the finest” in the event’s history.
The closing ceremony, attended by China’s Premier Li Qiang and a packed stadium, featured hundreds of performers donning glittery outfits and wielding bright lights. They danced, skipped, and interacted with athletes in a spectacular display.
Spectators, who had participated in rehearsals led by the stadium announcer, joined in rhythmic clapping, creating a lively atmosphere synchronized with the upbeat music playing in the background.
In a nod to the opening ceremony held a month prior, a digitally-projected athlete extinguished the cauldron’s flame and then embarked on a symbolic run that ended with a disappearing act in the sky.
The performers filled the stage with a colorful, energetic, and at times slightly kitschy display of dance and music, leaving the audience enthralled.
While security remained tight throughout the event, the less-than-two-hour ceremony also featured a symbolic handover to the hosts of the next Asian Games in 2026, the Japanese city of Nagoya. Notably, Nagoya’s mayor did not attend due to past comments related to historical events, and the handover occurred through delegates and officials.
China dominated the medal table for the 11th consecutive Asian Games, concluding with 201 gold medals, surpassing their previous best of 199 at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. The final gold of the Games went to Taiwan’s Gu Shiau-shuang in karate, equaling their best-ever gold medal haul achieved in 1998.
Japan claimed the other title on the closing day, winning the men’s team kata karate competition.
The Hangzhou Games featured 12,407 athletes from 45 nations participating in 40 sports. Delayed by a year due to COVID-19, the event was celebrated with new stadiums and an atmosphere of festivity, in stark contrast to the previous year’s Beijing Winter Olympics held under stringent health protocols.
Organizers emphasized the success of the Games but did not disclose the total cost, coinciding with China’s economic slowdown.
The event was marred by political tensions, including a dispute with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over North Korea’s flag. WADA had banned the flag at major sporting events in 2021, but it was displayed during the Asian Games, leading to an ongoing dispute between WADA and the Olympic Council of Asia.
