President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah opened the Fourth Asian Beach Games here on Friday.
The games, to last until November 23, gathered nearly 2,800 athletes, males and females, from 43 Asian countries at Saphan Hin stadium in the Thai southern island of Phuket. The event features 26 sports at six venue clusters.
Addressing the opening ceremony in the presence of Phuket governor Maitri Inthusut, Sheikh Ahmad, from Kuwait, said the beach games provide a chance for Asian athletes to show the magnificent techniques of these sports, which grew in popularity in Asia.
"The Asian sportspeople have the chance to compete in joyful, friendly and honest atmospheres in this scenic island. It's a chance to bring the Asian peoples closer to each other," he said.
Sheikh Ahmad urged the competitors to respect each other and build friendships that could help promote the beach sports in Asia and strengthen solidarity and unity among the Asian people.
He thanked Thailand for keenness on contributing to the OCA activities and hosting the current games.
He voiced trust in Phuket's ability to make the games a complete success based on the previous successful experiments of Thailand in organizing international sports events.
OCA President, who arrived here this morning, presented the medals for two ju-jitsu events - the men's under 90 kilograms and open category. He was greeted at the stadium by Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
The opening ceremony featured colorful parades and folklore dances and displays inspired by Thai history.
Source: KUNA