South Korean bid touching farewell
South Koreans bid a touching farewell to thousands of their guests as a vibrant ceremony, depicting
the cultural heritage of the host nation, brought down the curtain on the biggest-ever Asian Games in Busan on Monday.
Moments of triumph and failure during the last 16 days of competition were forgotten with the participants gathering for one last time amidst rousing cheers from the capacity
crowd as the first Games of the millennium was ceremonially brought to a close.
Dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky to herald the
start of the closing ceremony of the Games, which saw many new
sporting heroes emerge on the Asian scene though powerhouse China
continued to retain their stranglehold.
The Games, symbolising prosperity and unification for a
new millennium across Asia, saw over 6,000 athletes from all
the 44 countries battle for glory and will be remembered for
the first-time participation of a North Korean contingent on
South Korean soil.
India put up their best display abroad in the Asian Games, bagging
36 medals, including 11 gold, but ace long distance runner
Sunita Rani's testing positive for a banned substance did
tarnish the image of the country to some extent.
The 70-minute closing ceremony, held at the magnificent
main Asiad stadium, began with a marching band playing
traditional Korean music, which received a loud applause from
the spectators, many of whom had taken up their seats much
before the scheduled start.
Poignant scenes depicting the innocent playfulness of
children and the love of their mothers took centrestage after
the marching band retreated.
The athletes and officials of all the participating
countries then entered the stadium to a loud ovation as the
children and mothers stood in a line to watch them make their
way into the ground.
They were led into the stadium by the emblem
flag-bearers. The flag sported signs of all the 38 disciplines and also bore names of the participating nations.
Songs by popular singers and cultural dances, depicting
the bonds of friendship, formed the next part of the
programme, setting the stage for formal speeches and
ceremonial flag hoisting ceremonies.
The flags of the Olympic Council of Asia, the
national flag of the host country and the national flag of
the host crountry for the 15th Asian Games, Qatar, were
hoisted.
After the formal speeches, the flag of the Asian Games
was handed over to the next host country. In 2006, the 15th
Asian Games will be held in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
Following the lowering of the Asian Games flag, the
Games' flame, which had brightened the main stadium and
inspired competitors for the last 16 days, was extinguished
with a lone woman praying next to the torch tower.
The woman represents the Korean mother who prays for the
safety of all foreign athletes and guests who will leave for
their home countries. The figure of a praying mother symbolises
a wish shared by all Koreans that all the visitors return home
safely.
The ceremony came to an end with the 'Flying Duria' the
mascot of the Games, being released into the evening sky
alongwith a big spaceship. A banner trailed from the spaceship
saying a final goodbye.