STORY: Asiad Express: Asian Games showcase common dreams and unity despite differences
DATELINE: Oct. 8, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:07
LOCATION: HANGZHOU, China
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Hangzhou Asian Games
2. STANDUP 1 (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NANIEN YUNIAR, Journalist from Antara, an Indonesian news agency
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ADJUTHOR II MORALDE, Soft tennis athlete from the Philippines
5. STANDUP 2 (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
6. STANDUP 3 (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WENDY MICHELLE WERNETH, Journalist from Asian Games News Service

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
"The Asian Games is drawing to an end. Looking back on my time reporting the Games in two weeks. I've been asking others about their feelings and impressions of the Asian Games and the host city of Hangzhou."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NANIEN YUNIAR, Journalist from Antara, an Indonesian news agency
"I went to a Karate competition, I saw that the athletes matched together, but after the game was over, they could be friends again. I think that's the beauty of sports."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ADJUTHOR II MORALDE, Soft tennis athlete from the Philippines
"The audience is very supportive to the players. Not only the Chinese (players), but all players who play in the court, they supported."

Over the past two weeks, the city made new history by hosting the largest-ever Asian Games.

More than 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions compete in 481 events across 40 sports during the Games.

STANDUP 2 (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
"Athletes have been pushing their limits, breaking world records as well as making history for their countries. But what moved me most was often their stories outside the spotlight."

Iranian table tennis players won the nation's first team medal at the Asian Games in 65 years. The ace of the team is Noshad Alamiyan Darounkolaei, whose left hand can only play backhand due to a neurological disorder.

Bruneian wushu athlete won a historic Asiad silver medal. Behind this breakthrough, is the dedication of a Chinese coach spanning 17 years.

STANDUP 3 (English): WU YAO, Xinhua correspondent
"It's Games, but more than Games. It's a platform for competition, friendship, peace and unity among people of different ethnicities and languages."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): WENDY MICHELLE WERNETH, Journalist from Asian Games News Service
"That's the spirit of sports, right? It brings everybody to a neutral ground. It's what the Olympics were all about. And to see it happening on this level of Asian Games, I think everyone just appreciates to see the human endeavors that can be achieved by greatness."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hangzhou.
(XHTV)