Hangzhou sets stage for excellence

Asian Games venues completed as state-of-the-art facilities promise to deliver exceptional event

With less than six months to go, preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games are in full swing.

Organizers delivered the latest update on Thursday, confirming that all competition venues have been completed.

The 56 venues for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 (Sept 10-25) and the fourth Asian Para Games (Oct 9-15) have been finished on schedule, according to the organizing committee. They comprise 12 new, 26 renovated, nine rebuilt and nine temporary venues.

In addition, a total of 31 training venues, one Asian Games village and four Asian Games sub-villages will be ready in the coming months to provide accommodation, catering and medical services for athletes and other participants.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, will host the largest number of events during the Games.

The city's Huanglong Sports Center, which comprises a main stadium, a gymnasium and a natatorium, will host soccer, gymnastics and water polo at the Asian Games, and track and field events for the Asian Para Games.

Huanglong Stadium's soccer pitch is composed of both natural and artificial grass, making it more durable than a standard surface and helping it recover faster amid a busy schedule of matches during the Games.

According to Song Haiqiang, a senior engineer at Huanglong Sports Center, the stadium features a world-class plastic track which boasts superior performance and is ecologically friendly.

"The stadium can accommodate up to 60,000 people. All the seats have also been upgraded with more striking colors, such as purple, orange and blue," said Song.