Asian Winter Games Opens In China's Harbin City

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) HARBIN-China, Feb 7 (KUNA) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping declared open on Friday evening the Ninth Asian Winter Games (Harbin 2025), in the capital city of Heilongjiang Province, northeast China.
Nearly 1,500 athletes from 34 Asian countries, including a 55-strong mission Kuwait, are taking part in the spectacular sports gala.
The Kuwaiti athletes will be vying for medals in four out of the 11 sports of the tourney.
The impressive opening ceremony featured a colorful folklore performance under the theme of "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia."
After cauldron lighting and the national flags' parade, Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia Timothy Tsun Ting FOK delivered a speech on behalf of OCA to welcome the participants.
Ali Al-Merri, head of Kuwait mission, said Kuwait's participation in the games materialized the great support to sports by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabh.
"Kuwait Olympic Committee, headed by Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, is keen promoting the sports movement through participation in such continental event, which is the second biggest after the Asian Summer Games (Asiad)," he added. (end)
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