STORY: Foreign athletes, officials impressed by Hangzhou Asiad opening ceremony
DATELINE: Sept. 28, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:25
LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. pics of Hangzhou Asiad opening ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): KIRILL STANIK, Kazakh athlete
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ARNAB SHARAR, Bangladeshi athlete
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MASOOD ALI, Pakistani delegation official
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MOOSA ALHARRASI, Qatari athlete

STORYLINE:

Many foreign athletes and officials have showered praises for the amazing performances and technological innovations at the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games. 

SOUNDBITE 1 (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 2 (English): ARNAB SHARAR, Bangladeshi athlete
"We are really amazed as China hosts it (the Asian Games) very nicely. So we are really pleased. The services and the opening ceremony and other facilities (are) the best. The most impressive part of the event is the technology that China has used for the athletes, for the opening ceremony, for the volunteers, for everything and everybody."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MASOOD ALI, Pakistani delegation official
"The setup here is very nice. This is one of the best Asian Games in history. My favorite part of the performance was when the person (digital torchbearer) (was) going to light the candle (cauldron). That was a very beautiful thing." 

SOUNDBITE 4 (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 (things). (It) was super organized. I'm so happy to attend the ceremony."

The 19th Asian Games run through Oct. 8 in China's Hangzhou.

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