Grand ceremony kicks off national ethnic games in Henan

More than 40,000 athletes, performers and spectators from various ethnic groups gathered in Zhengzhou of Henan province to open the 11th National Traditional Games of Ethnic Minorities on Sunday.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, declared the Games open.

Thirty-two teams representing China's provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions marched at the opening ceremony in the newly built Olympic center stadium in the western city, followed by a 30-second performance featuring the ethnic culture of the delegates. Another two teams represented the army and Xinjiang construction regiment.

As the host of the games, Henan staged a gala performance featuring the rich culture of the central China's province including the Yellow River wonder, Shaolin kung fu and tai chi. The province boasts all the 55 ethnic groups in its nearly 100 million population.

More than 7,000 athletes will compete in 17 sports including dragon boat, swing, stilt race and ethnic aerobics in the 8-day games.

The games have been held every four years since the second edition in 1982. It is the first time that the games have landed in central China as the previous editions were held in western or southern China.