The Asian Games 2014: A big sporting event
The Asian Games have kicked off in the South Korean city of Incheon. The athletes from countries across Asia - including from North Korea - will compete for some 439 medals in 36 sporting events over the next 15 days.
15 days, 36 games, 439 medals
The opening ceremony took place on Friday, September 19, in Incheon's biggest stadium. The competition is taking place in South Korea for the third time. In 1986, the games were held in the country's capital Seoul and in 2002 in city of the Busan. 10,000 athletes from some 45 Asian nations will compete in the games. The largest foreign delegation is from China. North Korea, too, has a big squad.
In the 'enemy country'
A week prior to the opening ceremony, the first group of North Korean athletes landed in Incheon. 270 athletes and officials from the communist country are participating in Asian Games. It is not the first time that Pyongyang has sent its athletes to a big official sporting event being held in the "enemy" South.
Cheerleaders from the North
The North Korean delegation usually takes along its own cheerleaders to such competitions. For these young women, to be able to travel with their country's athletes and cheer them in these events is a dream come true. Only the prettiest of women are selected by the North Korean officials. Reportedly, the wife of the Korean dictator Kim Jong Un also used to be part of the group.
'State Propaganda'
The North Korean cheerleaders were also supposed to travel to this year's Asian Games, but the authorities in Pyongyang canceled the trip in August blaming Seoul for this, which allegedly referred to the cheerleader group as "state propaganda."
The flag controversy
The North Korean flags sparked anger among South Korean residents ahead of the games. The Asian Games' organizing committee had put up the flags of all participating countries on the streets including the North Korean national flag. But after the protests the North Korean flags were taken down and will now only be exhibited in the competition venues.
Typically Asian
Besides the Olympic disciplines, this year's competition also hosts a number of typical Asian sporting pastimes, for example, Sepak Takraw, which is originally from Thailand and Malaysia. In this game, the three-player teams kick the ball over the net into the opponent's half of the field.
Wushu
The sport of Wushu game is also up for the medals in Incheon. "Wushu" is a Chinese term used for traditional martial arts. The sport – which is also popular in Afghanistan and Iran – has so far not been able to make it to the Olympics.
Two weeks of great sports
All in all it is going to be 15 days of amazing sports in Incheon. The Games' closing ceremony will be held on October 4. China, once again, is likely to top the medal tally. The main contenders for the number two and number three spots are Japan, followed by the host nation South Korea.