The closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou

Performers dance during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.


The closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010.



Dancers perform on stage during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.




Fireworks shoot out from Canton Tower, at the beginning of the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.



Child performers act on stage during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.







Performers dance on stage during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.




Performers dance on stage during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.



Performers dance during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.



Performers dance during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.



Performers dance on stage during the closing ceremony for the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 27, 2010. An 'extraordinary' Asian Games prepared to close after 15 days of thrills and spills that saw China reinforce its sporting credentials and Japan slip further behind.













source: Daylife
Photo: Gettyimages

Girls, girls, girls: Cheerleaders' bikinis blamed for putting off team at Asian Games

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE

Crowd-pleasers: But the beach volleyball cheerleaders at the Asian Games have been blamed for a team losing their concentration


The cheerleaders at the beach volleyball might have proved a welcome distraction to spectators at the Asian Games - but not all the competitors are so thrilled.

The Yemen team's Adeeb Mahfoudh has blamed the girls' skimpy outfits for putting off her team during a defeat by a more focused Indonesia at the event in China.

She said: 'They had an effect on how we played. I think they had something to do with our losing the match.'


On parade: These girls' outfits proved off-putting to the Yemen team in their defeat by Indonesia


Organisers of the Guangzhou Asiad have hired four cheerleader squads, each made up of eight girls in swimsuits, to entertain fans during breaks in the beach volleyball action.

Besides cheering on the crowds, the girls also perform routines that include traditional Chinese elements including martial arts and fan dancing.

However, Mahfoudh didn't harbour a grudge. 'These girls are very beautiful. With them here, more people will pay attention to beach volleyball,' she said.

'If I can, I hope to watch them perform at the next match.'


Racy routines: There are four different sets of cheerleaders, each featuring eight girls, to raise the crowd's spirits between breaks


During an 'inspection' tour earlier this week, Kenneth Fok, deputy delegation head of Team Hong Kong defended the activities at the beach volleyball venue.

He described the entertainment as 'orderly'.


All action: China (in red) win a point against Malaysia during their match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou


source: dailymail

the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010, November 17, 2010

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: Lei Zhao of China serves to Kyungryun Kim of Korea in her soft tennis match on day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Tianhe Tennis School on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.



Medics tend to Mohammad Parash of Iran after he crashed out of the men's keirin cycling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Parash had to be stretchered from the track wearing a neck brace.



Zhao Lei of China cries as she celebrates her victory over Kim Aek-Yung of South Korea during their women's singles soft tennis final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Zhao won 4-1 to take the gold medal.




Gold medallist Azizulhasni Awang (R) of Malaysia displays the national flag with compatriot silver medallist Josiah NG (L) after winning the men's keirin cycling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010.




Irina Tsimbalova (C) of Kazakhstan spikes the ball pass WW Sujeewa of Sri Lanka during the beach volleyball women's preliminary pool D match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Irina Tsimbalova and Tatyana Mashkova beat WW Sujeewa and KKLG Geethika 21-12, 21-13.



The Asian Games beach volleyball cheer squad entertain the crowd during the beach volleyball competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Bikini-wearing Asian Games beach volleyball cheer squads are proving too hot for some competitors who claim the scantily-clad dancers make it impossible to concentrate, 'They had an effect on how we played,' Yemen beach volleyballer Adeeb Mahfoudh told the Tianfu Morning News.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: (Bottom) Lei Zhang of China and Mohammad Parash of Iran lay on the track after a crash in the men's Keirin final during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Guangzhou Velodrome on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China. Parash was able to leave the velodrome in a wheerchair and head back to the athlete's village.







Hwang Young Shik of Korea (C) celebrates wining the gold with Laura (back) during the equestrian dressage individual final at the Guangzhou equestrian venue, during the 16th Asian Games on November 17, 2010. Hwang of Korea wins the gold, Nur Mahamad Quzandra of Malaysia gets the silver and Mahamad Qabil Mahamad Fathil of Malaysia gets the bronze medal.




Jarunee Sannok of Thailand dives to retrieve a shot during the beach volleyball women's preliminary pool D match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Jarunee Sannok and Usa Tenpaksee of Thailand beat Lee Sin-hwa and Kwak Mi-jung of South Korea 21-11, 21-14.




Silver medalists Jin Yongde, Liu Yadong (C) and Li Chuanlin (L) of China pose on the podium during the medals ceremony at the end of the men's 25 Standard Pistol team shooting competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. South Korea took their gold medal tally to 10 from 25 shooting events. China have 13 golds and North Korea and Kazakhstan one each.



GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: The South Korea team pose with the gold medals won in the Men's 25m Standard Pistol Team competition during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Aoti Shooting Range on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.






Uzbekistan's Adelina Zinurova (white cap) fights for the ball with India's Varshini Gubbi during their women's water polo match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, November 17, 2010.



Young Shik Hwang of Korea celebrates wining the gold medal with Laura during the Equestrian Dressage individual final at the Guangzhou equestrian venue, during the 16th Asian Games on November 17, 2010. Hwang of Korea wins the gold, Nur Mahamad Quzandria of Malaysia gets the silver and Mahamad Qabil Mahamad Fathil of Malaysia gets the bronze medal.



India's Sardar Singh (L) closes in on Bangladesh's A.H.M Kamruzzaman during their men's field hockey match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, November 17, 2010.






Gold medalist Hong Seong-Hwang (C) of South Korea poses on the podium with silver medalist Kim Jong-Su of North Korea (L) and bronze medalist Jin Yongde of China during the medals ceremony at the end of the men's 25 Standard Pistol individual shooting competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Hong shot a 575 to take the individual title ahead of Kim, who finished on 573 at the Aoti shooting ranges.



GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: Chengyi Wang of China poses with the gold medal won in the Women's 50m Rifle three Position during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Aoti Shooting Range on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.




Jasjeet Kaur Handa of India (C) passes the ball as she is pressed by Gim Sung Hee (L) and Kim Youngran (R) of South Korea during a field hockey match of the women's pool W at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. South Korea won1-0.






Vladimir Tuychiev of Uzbekistan leads the field on his way to winning gold in the men's points race cycling final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010.




Nur Mahamad Quzandria of Malaysia celebrates on the podium with her silver medal during the equestrian dressage individual final at the Guangzhou equestrian venue, during the 16th Asian Games on November 17, 2010. Hwang Young Shik of Korea wins the gold, Nur Mahamad Quzandria of Malaysia gets the silver and Mahamad Qabil Mahamad Fathil of Malaysia gets the bronze medal.




The Asian Games beach volleyball cheer leaders pose for a photo shoot during a break in the beach volleyball competition at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Bikini-wearing Asian Games beach volleyball cheer squads are proving too hot for some competitors who claim the scantily-clad dancers make it impossible to concentrate.'They had an effect on how we played,' Yemen beach volleyballer Adeeb Mahfoudh told the Tianfu Morning News.







GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: The China team pose with the gold medals won in the Women's 50m Rifle three Position Team during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Aoti Shooting Range on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: The Iranteam pose with the bronze medals won in the Women's 50m Rifle three Position Team during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Aoti Shooting Range on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.



GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: The teams from China (silver), North Korea (gold) and South Korea (bronze) pose with the medals won in the Men's 10m Running Target Mixed Team during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Aoti Shooting Range on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.




Jarunee Sannok of Thailand dives to retrieve a shot during the beach volleyball women's preliminary pool D match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Jarunee Sannok and Usa Tenpaksee of Thailand beat Lee Sin-hwa and Kwak Mi-jung of South Korea 21-11, 21-14.






Lee Yo-han of South Korea poses on the podium during an award ceremony for the men's singles soft tennis final at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 17, 2010. Lee Yo-han defeated his compatriot Bae Hwan-sung 4-2 to win the gold medal as Keiya Nakamoto of Japan and Yang Sheng Fa of Taiwan took the bronze medals.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 17: Myong Won Pak of North Korea sheds a tear after receiving the gold medal won in the Men's 10m Running Target Mixed Team during day five of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Aoti Shooting Range on November 17, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.









source: Daylife
photo: Gettyimages, Reuters

the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Haizhu Sports Centre on November 16, 2010

The five race leaders crash heavily on the corner during the women's points race cycling at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 16, 2010. In an incident-packed race that included a major pile-up that saw several racers tumble over Liu Xin from China emerged from the chaos with a winning 34 points with Hong Kong's Wong Wan-Yiu taking silver and Chanpeng Nontasin, of Thailand, winning bronze.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 16: Abdullah Atuwaini of Kuwait competes in the Men;'s 100m Backstroke Heat 2 at the Aoti Aquatics Centre during day four of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 on November 16, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 16: Sunjae Jang of South Korea celebrates winning the gold medal in the Men's Team Pursuit Final Track Cycling during day four of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Guangzhou Velodrome on November 16, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.



GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 16: Silver medalist Yiu Wan Wong of Hong Kong goes to the podium in a wheelchair after crashing in the Women's Points Race Finals Track Cycling during day four of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Guangzhou Velodrome on November 16, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 16: Gold medalist Xiu Liu helps Silver medalist Yiu Wan Wong of Hong Kong at the podium after crashing in the Women's Points Race Finals Track Cycling during day four of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Guangzhou Velodrome on November 16, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.




Injured silver medallist Wong Wan Yiu cries on the podium after crashing heavily in the women's points race cycling at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 16, 2010. Wong was leading the points tally when the five race leaders collided on a corner.



Liu Xin of China displays the national flag after winning gold in the women's points race cycling at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 16, 2010. In an incident-packed race that included a major pile-up that saw several racers tumble over Liu emerged from the chaos with a winning 34 points with Hong Kong's Wong Wan-Yiu taking silver and Chanpeng Nontasin, of Thailand, winning bronze.




Chanpeng Nontasin of Thailand displays her bronze medal on the podium after the women's points race cycling at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 16, 2010. In an incident-packed race that included a major pile-up that saw several racers tumble over Liu Xin from China emerged from the chaos with a winning 34 points with Hong Kong's Wong Wan-Yiu taking silver and Chanpeng Nontasin, of Thailand, winning bronze.




Shiho Otsuka (C) of Japan approches the goal post after dodging the Indian defence lineup during their women's Pool W field hockey match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 16, 2010. Japan led 2-0 after half-time.




Malaysia's Norshahruddin Mad Ghani taps the ball during their men's sepak takraw match against China at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, November 16, 2010. China's Li Huanhuan looks on.




GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 16: Husni Uba of Indonesia competes with Yoo Dong Young of Korea in the Sepaktakraw Men's Team Preliminary Group A match between Korea and Indonesia during day four of the 16th Asian Games Guangzhou 2010 at Haizhu Sports Centre on November 16, 2010 in Guangzhou, China.





source: Daylife
photo: Gettyimages