The Guangzhou Asian Games spent less money than last time in Doha in preparing for the opening and closing ceremony, according to a senior official of the organizing committee.

"Some 380 million yuan (US$57.2 million) has been spent for the opening and closing ceremony and the fireworks," said He Jiqing, the head of celebration and activity sector of the organizing committee, after the opening ceremony was successfully held on a Pearl River island Friday evening.

Despite he didn't make sure the exact amount of money as the closing ceremony to be presented on Nov. 27, it is sure that Guangzhou spends less than Doha, which inked as a huge budget as US$180 million only on staging opening ceremony.

However, for Guangzhou Asiad, less spending doesn't mean less highlights.

In Guangzhou, for the first time the Asian Games opening ceremony moved out of the traditional stadium to an island, namely Haixinsha island, surrounded by residential buildings and skyscrapers.

Befitting a city and a continent whose very foundations depend on the convergence of land and water, the opening ceremony centered on the river, its islands and its riverbanks.

"Creativity plays an important role in our preparation. As the mother river of Guangzhou, Pearl River inspired us a lot," said Che Weiya, director of the Guangzhou Asiad opening ceremony.

"Last time in Doha, the Asiad impressed the world with the opening ceremony forming a theme of desert. Four years later in Guangzhou, a water-themed arts show gave people another feeling about the Asiad and the city of Guangzhou," added Chen, who was an assistant director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2010)