The Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony for the 1st Asian Beach Games Bali 2008 will be held on October 18, 2008 at the GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) in Bukit in Jimbaran . The GWK Covers 239 hectares of land and boasts a statue that was planned to stand taller than the Empire State building in the USA, how ever due to economical reasons, the statue construction was halted in 2003. Wisnu or Vishnu is the Hindu God who is the protector-part of the Hindu trinity, which is Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. The unique statue of half man half bird will one day be a national landmark. In front of the head of the garuda bird which has already been completed is an open air stage and amphi-theater for various events and ceremonies. The area will comfortably fit about 5000 invitations only guests for the opening ceremony of the 1st Asian Beach Games. "The Opening Ceremony will be a grand opening to the 1st Asian Beach Games. We will present entertainment that will be uniquely Balinese and Indonesian", hints Mr. Ervan Ibrahim, Director of events and ceremonies for Babgoc. The Closing Ceremony for the Games will also be held at the GWK Venue.
The athletes and officials have completed their tasks of performing at their very best to victory. The volunteers have returned, hopefully with big smile on their faces as they are another essential part of this Asian history and the world's heritage in sports. The spectators have also done cheering for their favorite teams. The journalists have performed all their duties of sounding the event all accross the country and beyond. Bali has returned to its previous days, full of new beginnings and expectations to explore.
Two years from now, we will witness another Asian Beach Games. We will witness all the spirit and battle to be the best by defeating the best. We will witness all the joy, festive, cheers, struggle, laughter, even tears as Asia gathers once more in tight yet friendly competitions. We will witness Asian Beach Games II Muscat, Oman.
