[article] The Asiad Closing Ceremony–as it happened.

THE HINDU 11/27/2010 — Anand Venkateswaran, Correspondent:

The brilliant Opening Ceremony meant expectations for the Closing Ceremony were high. And Guangzhou did not disappoint. Apart from the creativity and coordination, traditional elements like handing over the flag to Incheon, the next host, and the extinguishing of the flame left a warm afterglow at the Closing Ceremony of the 16th Asian Games…

19:13: The giant LEDs say ‘Welcome to Incheon’.

19:09: ‘Rain’ is one of Korea’s leading entertainers. He’s also starred in a couple of major Hollywood motion pictures – ‘Speed Racer’ and the more recent and much more bloody ‘Ninja Assassin’.

19:06: Sounds like a hit number; the Korean athletes can’t stop dancing. Oh, it’s a medley now.

19:05: Fan dancers, Taekwando. Korean pop star Rain is dressed in leather. He brings some mean moves to the floor.

19:03: Incheon is on stage, a glimpse of what to expect four years hence. Blend of the traditional and the ultra-modern. A song and dance sequence – the song sung in hard rock style, a metal-head dummer rupping away with drumsticks on fire. I didn’t mean the ‘on fire’ part figuritively.

18:59: A stiff breeze ripples through the Korean flag, picture perfect. I wonder if Guangzhou arranged for the wind as well. Incheon has been handed over the privilege and the responsibility of hosting the next edition of the Games. The Incheon mayor waves the scroll of the first Asian Games, New Delhi.

18:56: In with the new – the mayor of Incheon, Korea, comes forward to recieve the Asian Games flag. Incheon will host the 17th Asian Games. The national anthem of the Republic of Korea….