It was a late winter evening in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. And this was also the Official Opening of the Guangzhou 2010 1st Asia Para Games.

The Guangzhou Asia Para Games Organizing Committee (GAPGOC) promised a games of equal splendor and size compared to the venerable and vastly more popular Asia Games; this was the time to see if they indeed were able to pull off what they promised.

As soon as the prelude for the opening started, it was clear to everyone present that China, Guangzhou and GAPGOC meant what they said. Though in terms of pure grandeur or splendor, the 1st Asia Para Games was lagging behind both the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Guangzhou 2010 Asia Games; the perfectly choreographed, excellently planned and executed performances had a very human, intimate touch to it.

From the colors, the usage of lighting, movements, music and content; many of the audience were in tears at least once. Continue reading →