OCA Acting President Randhir Singh praised Chinese organisers for the way they dealt with the one-year postponement of the Asian Games due to the COVID-19 pandemic ©Getty Images

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Acting President Randhir Singh saluted organisers’ "diligence" and "determination" to put on the Asian Games here despite being hit by a one-year postponement and is confident they will deliver a "magnificent" event.

Singh’s comments came in his speech at the Opening Ceremony of Hangzhou 2022 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

Hangzhou was originally scheduled to stage the Asian Games in September last year only for the event to be postponed by 12 months following a rise in COVID-19 cases in China.

The decision by the OCA was a blow to Hangzhou but Singh hailed the city’s response to the situation as they look to stage the biggest Asian Games in history with a record 12,500 athletes from 45 nations due to participate.

"I am sure that everyone here at the 19th Asian Games will enjoy their time in Hangzhou city and Zhejiang province and take-home memories to last a lifetime," said Singh.

Almost 900 athletes are set to represent China at what will be the biggest-ever Asian Games ©Getty Images
Almost 900 athletes are set to represent China at what will be the biggest-ever Asian Games ©Getty Images

"[The Organising Committee] have done a fantastic job in preparing for the Asian Games.

"The one-year postponement due to the pandemic was unprecedented in OCA history - but your diligence and determination will bear fruit over the next 16 days and you will be rewarded with the most magnificent and successful Asian Games ever.

"The OCA salutes you."

Wang Hao, the co-leader of the Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee and Governor of the Zhejiang Province, thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his encouragement over the past eight years.

"In 2015, when Hangzhou won the bid for the 19th Asian Games, President Xi Jinping voiced his high expectations," said Wang.

"[Xi] said that ‘'I'm confident that Hangzhou is fully capable of delivering a successful Asian Games'.

"With our hearts full of gratitude for such trust, we have kept these words in our mind and worked hard to live up to his expectations.

"Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Government, we have followed the requirements of staging a streamlined, safe and splendid event, and mobilised all available resources in Zhejiang to prepare for and deliver a spectacular Asian Games."

Hangzhou 2022 co-leader Wang Hao said Chinese President Xi Jinping's encouragement was key to ensure the Asian Games could be staged this year after last year's postponement ©Getty Images
Hangzhou 2022 co-leader Wang Hao said Chinese President Xi Jinping's encouragement was key to ensure the Asian Games could be staged this year after last year's postponement ©Getty Images

Fellow Hangzhou 2022 President Gao Zhidan, who is head of the Chinese Olympic Committee, said the city was "ready to present a magnificent Asian Games".

"Sports is an important platform for showcasing different cultures, and a bridge that can bring friends even closer," said Gao.

"We hope that this Games can be a window to show China’s vibrancy in the new era.

"We hope that sports can be a medium for building a beautiful home of peace and friendship.

"And we hope that all athletes can take the arena as a stage of self-betterment.

"With passionate competition and poetic sceneries, let’s honour the Olympic spirit, strive for new records of Asian sports, and write together a new chapter of an Asian community with a shared future.

"I wish the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou a full success and all athletes outstanding performance."