STORY: Hangzhou Asian Games impresses athletes, reporters
DATELINE: Sept.27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:19
LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 19th Asian Games
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ARNAB SHARAR, Bangladeshi athlete
3. various of the 19th Asian Games
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): TATARINOVA SVETLANA, Kuwaiti athlete
5. various of the 19th Asian Games
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SOAAD ALFAQAAN, Kuwaiti athlete
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Russian): KIRILL STANIK, Kazakh athlete
8. various of the 19th Asian Games
9. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MOOSA ALHARRASI, Qatari athlete
10. SOUNDBITE 6 (Arabic): BASEM BADRAN, Syrian sports journalist
11. various of the athlete village

STORYLINE:

The 19th Asian Games is underway in east China's Zhejiang Province.

Innovations in making the sporting gathering a sustainable reality have impressed athletes competing in the Games.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ARNAB SHARAR, Bangladeshi athlete
"None of the games was like the Hangzhou Asian Games. It's the best, best of all.
The most interesting part of the thing is the technology. Technology that China has used for the athletes, for the opening ceremony, for the volunteers, for everything, everybody. They actually amazed the whole world."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): TATARINOVA SVETLANA, Kuwaiti athlete
"For me, it's the first time I've participated in this big, huge event. It's amazing here."

Meanwhile, they have also spoken highly of the opening ceremony of the Games which showcases China's vitality and remarkable presentation of culture, technology, and modernity.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SOAAD ALFAQAAN, Kuwaiti athlete
"First of all, the organization is amazing. I love the holographic lights with the name of the country. The dancers, all of the small details, made it also special."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Russian): KIRILL STANIK, Kazakh athlete
"The opening ceremony was amazing. It's the first time I've seen such a performance and I thought it was very cool, the level of performance was very high."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MOOSA ALHARRASI, Qatari athlete
"Actually I was one of the people that participated in the open ceremony and it was one of the most amazing, was super organized. I'm so happy to attend the ceremony."

SOUNDBITE 6 (Arabic): BASEM BADRAN, Syrian sports journalist
"As we follow the opening ceremony, it's a profound message about China's ability to amaze the world and present strong messages to the world to many parts of the world about China's ability to host such games. Such games require a lot of organization and advanced planning. Some 12,500 athletes from 45 countries and regions certainly need great organization work and the ability to achieve harmony during the Games."

Kicked off on Saturday in Hangzhou, the 19th Asian Games will end on October 8.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hangzhou, China.
(XHTV)