Asian gold medalist Bui Thi Nhung will carry the flame to light the Asian Indoor Games (AIG) torch in the opening ceremony at My Dinh National Stadium today.

Organisers said the opening ceremony will impress the over 4,000 participants of the biggest indoor games in Asia.

At the chef de mission meeting in Ha Noi in August, the Olympic Council of Asia’s honorary vice president for life, Wei Jizhong said: “The incoming Games will be a big event for Viet Nam. This will be not only a chance for athletes from Asia to get together, but it’s a chance for Asia to learn more about the development of Viet Nam.”

Participating countries and territories are sending their best squads to the games, said Viet Nam Olympic Committee vice chairman and general secretary, Hoang Vinh Giang.

The organising committee sent out 10,000 invitations and issued 30,000 tickets for the opening ceremony.

A full-dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony was held at the stadium on Wednesday.

Ha Noi is the main venue for 11 of the sports.

The AIG traffic sub-committee has mobilised over 500 cars and buses for the events in Ha Noi alone. The sub-committee will also be in charge of traffic control on the roads around venues to keep streets free of traffic jams during the 10-day competition.

The organising committee successfully tested the information system for the Games at 27 venues in Ha Noi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong and Quang Ninh.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News