After two weeks of intense action, the 19th edition of the Asian Games has come to an end with a glittering closing Ceremony on Sunday, 8th October. The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre was the venue for the final event of the 19th edition of the multisport event. The ceremony celebrated the athletes’ stupendous feats and China’s cultural heritage.
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A festive atmosphere descended on the 80,000 capacity ‘Big Lotus’ Stadium in the 75-minute show of light, sound and laser with the athletes of the 45 participating countries bidding farewell after more than two weeks of intense sporting competition.
The closing ceremony was a celebration of sports and culture, and it sought to realise a harmonic convergence of ‘Culture and Sports’. Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) acting chief Randhir Singh declared the 19th edition of the Asian Games closed in the presence of Chinese premier Li Qiang and other dignitaries.
“I declare the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games closed and as per the tradition call upon the youth of Asia to assemble in three years time in Aichi-Nagoya (Japan) to celebrate the 20th Asian Games there in accordance with the ideals of the Olympic Council of Asia.” “May the youth of Asia ever celebrate the Asian Games in the spirit of brotherhood and for the good of humanity,” Singh said.
The flag bearers of all the countries came out first before the other athletes and officials joined. Men’s hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was the Indian flag bearer. There were around 100 Indian athletes and officials in the parade, as many of them had already left for home after the end of their respective events.
In a sombre ceremony, the torch and flag of the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951 as well as the OCA flag was handed to the governor of Japan’s Nagoya-Aichi, the 2026 edition host city.
Closing ceremony performances
A memory river flowed 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, who lit up the main Games flame together with Olympic champion — and 19th Asian Games gold medallist — swimmer Wang Shun at the opening ceremony, returned to witness the flame being extinguished, together with the volunteers and athletes. The digital giant then bid his own farewell with an emotional gesture before disappearing from the show.
The main theme of the ceremony was the ‘Enduring Memories of Hangzhou’ with the carnival conveying the timeless friendship of ‘Flowers for Parting Friends’ and the aspiration of ‘The Lotus and the Osmanthus in Harmony’.
The ceremony aimed at showcasing the exciting and touching moments of athletes throughout the Games, while representing millions of volunteers and citizens of Hangzhou as well as every person that made these Games possible. By focusing on the people, it sought to highlight the people-to-people interactions and the spirit of Sports Without Borders.
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