OCA President attends Games One-year Countdown Ceremony

Guangzhou, November 12 - The One-year Countdown Ceremony for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games was held at Guangzhou Gymnasium from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm tonight.

One-year Countdown Ceremony for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.

OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah delivers a speech at the ceremony.

Here is the OCA President's speech:

H.E. Mr Wang Yang, Party Secretary of the Guangdong CPC Provincial Committee,

H.E. Mr Liu Peng, President of Chinese Olympic Committee,

Leaders from Guangdong Provincial and Guangzhou Municipal Governments,

Respected Dignitaries,

My colleagues from the OCA, NOCs and Chefs -de-Mission,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening!

On March 11 this year, we were in Kuwait to celebrate the inauguration of the Road of Asia tour which has been a wonderful journey by land and by sea through 37 countries and regions - building excitement all along the Road of Asia.

Tonight we are here together in the Flower City of Guangzhou to celebrate the one year countdown for the 16 ^th Asian Game.

You have all witnessed the excellent preparations and arrangements being made by the Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) for the participation of our athletes and I am sure come November 2010 we will all witness a historic Asian Games.

I would also like to thank the NOCs for their support to the Games which shows our unity and our Asian spirit.

I hope you all enjoy the evening and look forward to seeing you all in one years time in Guangzhou for the Opening Ceremony of the 16 ^th Asian Games.

Thank you Guangzhou!

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah

President of OCA