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The 16th Asian Games are officially opened!

The spectacular Opening Ceremony for the 16th Asian Games, part of the worldwide Olympic movement and governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), took place on Friday November 12 in Guangzhou, China.

A record number of about 14,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories are participating in 42 sporting disciplines until November 27. Games officials also announced that during The 16 th Asian Games some 3,989 medals will be awarded. The Opening Ceremony was directed by Chen Weiya, previously director of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and was held outside the main stadium on the Haixinsha Island.

The Games are ready to dazzle the three million spectators set to watch all of the competition and billions of TV viewers across Asia and around the World.

Officials announced that a record number of doping tests will be carried out at the Games. “The Olympic Council of Asia plans for some 1,500 urine tests and probably more than 200 blood tests at the Asian Games”, according to Zhao Jian, deputy head of China’s Anti-Doping Agency.