Emotional farewell to light up the heart

Touching closing ceremony set to highlight athletes and volunteers

With over two weeks of world-class sporting action nearing its end, organizers of the 19th Asian Games have promised to stage a romantic and touching closing ceremony to bid an emotional farewell to all Games participants.

With records broken, legends created and friendships built on and off the field of competition, the Hangzhou Asian Games will wrap up the quadrennial celebration of athletic achievement, mutual respect and continental unity at a closing ceremony on Sunday night at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

A salute to the athletes for the sacrifices made in pursuing their athletic dreams and gratitude to all the volunteers for helping pull off such a spectacular event in a welcoming way will be the main highlights of the closing ceremony, according to the show's creative team.

"Athletes and volunteers will be the two main aspects that we will appreciate and promote during the closing ceremony, which will last about 75 minutes," said Sha Xiaolan, chief director of the ceremony.

"We are trying to make it a celebration party for the athletes who all did their best in Hangzhou and made new friends off the field of play.

"We will also extend our utmost gratitude to all of the volunteers, who have played a crucial role in the success of the Games and deserve to take center stage at the end."

The farewell party, however, is expected to infuse all participants with a heartwarming sense of love and respect, with the excitement of meeting each other again, rather than being overwhelmed by the sorrowful sentiment of departure, said Cui Wei, deputy director of the ceremony.

The use of technology is once again set to impress everyone, following the stunning opening ceremony, but in a more romantic and aesthetic way, according to Sha.

With only a 24-hour break at the main stadium between the conclusion of all competitions and the closing ceremony, the giant oval-shaped LED floor screen that played such an instrumental role during the opening ceremony won't be deployed again.

The creative team, though, came up with another innovation to make up for it. A "digital turf", a large mesh with over 40,000 illuminated spots evenly woven in, will cover the football field to turn the field into a giant color palette, where shifting images, such as starry skies, flowers and waves, can be displayed in a glittering way.

"The grass will still look and feel like grass, yet the sparking colors and images will make the ground shimmer, welcoming athletes to center stage for a party," said Sha.

A memory river will flow across the stage toward the end of the show, reflecting on all the hard work and thoughtful services provided by volunteers during the Games, before welcoming them to join the athletes in the final celebration.

The giant virtual torchbearer, which lit up the main flame together with Olympic champion — and 19th Asian Games gold medalist — swimmer Wang Shun at the opening ceremony, will return to witness the flame being extinguished, together with the volunteers and athletes, according to Sha.

"The digital giant will then bid his own farewell with a very emotional gesture before disappearing from the show. This will be a reference to the opening ceremony, which we'd like to keep a secret for now," said Sha.

To prepare for the closing ceremony, over 2,100 performers have completed over 200 drills and dress rehearsals at a spare venue since July 10, according to Wu Yan, chief producer of the show.