Lt. Genl. Syed Arif Hasan (Left), Vice-president of OCA, Liu Peng (middle), director of SGAS and Jiang Daming, governor of Shandong province announced the opening of the one-year countdown ceremony in the host city of Haiyang in East China’s Shandong province, June 16. [Photo/Yu Yongjie]
 

Representatives from five regions in Asia attended a competition for the third Asian Beach Games at the one-year countdown ceremony in the host city of Haiyang in East China’s Shandong province, June 16. [Photo/Yu Yongjie]
 
Performance at the one-year countdown ceremony for the third Asian Beach Games in the host city of Haiyang in East China’s Shandong province, June 16. [Photo/Yu Yongjie]
 

 
Representatives from five regions in Asia attended a competition for the third Asian Beach Games at the one-year countdown ceremony in the host city of Haiyang in East China’s Shandong province, June 16.

Several officials -- Lt. Syed Arif Hasan, Vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA); Liu Peng, director of the State General Administration of Sports (SGAS) and president of the Chinese Olympic Committee; Jiang Daming, governor of Shandong Province -- attended the event and announced the opening of the one-year countdown together amid loud cheers.

Hasan expressed his best wishes for the games and said he was in favor of the efforts made by Chinese Olympic Committee and Haiyang government. For the 3rd Asian Beach Games to be held as a high-level sports event, it would set a good example for the beach games.

The ceremony was led by a drum performance, Haiyang yangko (a rural folk dance) and folk songs from other Asian countries.

Currently, preparations already underway for the games include venue construction, market promotion and volunteer recruitment. More than 8,500 volunteers have been selected to serve the games.

As one of the five major sports galas in Asia, the 2012 Asian Beach Games features 45 events from 12 sports. So far, 38 Asian countries and regions have confirmed their participation.