The 5th Asian Indoor Games was officially opened last night in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The atmosphere was electric as more than 7,500 artists including singers, dancers, musicians and acrobats took centrestage at the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium, showcasing ‘The Spirit of Turkmenistan’ as a capacity crowd of 45,000 celebrated the Opening Ceremony of the biggest multi-sport event ever held in Central Asia.
Athletes, officials and spectators were invited to a captivating evocation of the soul of a nation from ancient times through until the present day through its spirit, symbols, history, music and art.
From dazzling displays of acrobatics on the country’s famous Akhal-Teke horses and images of its beautiful carpets to a song from legendary Turkmen folk artist Jemal Saparova and a spectacular fireworks finale, the show did exactly that.
The grand spectacle, which included 75,000 costume pieces and 700 tonnes of freight, revolved around a huge cylinder in the middle of the stadium.
The structure, 30 metres in diameter and suspended 30 metres above the stadium floor, projected 25 metre-high images and hid entire scene changes, sets and hundreds of members of the cast.
There was a roar of delight from the crowd as fire rose high into the sky from the cauldron atop the stadium after the lighting of the Games flame.
The cauldron sits on the neck of a giant white horse monument that was recently recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest architectural portrayal of a horse on the planet.
It was after the tolling of a bell and a blessing by Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov early in the ceremony, that Ashgabat 2017 officially got under way.