GUANGZHOU - When the 16th Asian Games opens in Guangzhou on Friday, it is like unfolding a Chinese miracle that already started two decades ago.

Guangzhou, a reflecting mirror

"Two decades after Beijing hosted the Asian Games, the continental sports games is being held in Guangzhou, a pioneer city that has achieved notable economic growth and social development since China launched the reform and opening-up policy in 1978," said Yang Shuan, deputy head of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

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Twenty years ago, one could hardly believe that it would just take a city's wisdom and wealth to stage such a large-scale international sports meet because when the Asian Games first came to China in 1990, the whole country was mobilized, with 700 million yuan donated from 100 million heartful Chinese.

In the preparation for the Games, Guangzhou weathered the global economic crisis to sign enough of sponsors and finance the building of 11 new stadiums, which will all open to the public after the Games.

Well, unbelievable as it looks, Guangzhou's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009 was roughly about 60 percent of the national GDP two decades ago while Guangdong province now is more than twice richer than the whole country then.

Back then, the Chinese would reach deep into their pockets to support the Asian Games as the country was in the early stage of an economic takeoff. Now people will have to find another way to express their enthusiasm, for example, to volunteer for the Games. There are 590,000 volunteers selected from 1.5 million candidates, most of them from Guangdong.

Guangzhou, like a reflecting mirror, tells a story of China which is growing, strong and fast.

China, a changing sport giant

For many who don't have the opportunity to serve for the Games, watching the competition will be another way to show support. But this time, the Chinese may less focus on the gold medal counts.

Sheer sporting success is far from enough for China which is trying to help the general public enjoy sports and good health.

The government encourages people from all walks of life to practice physical exercises during work intervals, setting up fitness facilities in residential communities and organizing mass sport activities.

There is still a long way to go in the development of mass sport, as Liu Peng, head of the State General Administration of Sport put it. The direction, however, is always towards the well-being of the people, just as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in his report to the National People's Congress this March, "Everything we do we do to ensure that people live a happier life with more dignity and make our society fairer and more harmonious."

Asia, embracing peace, friendship, progress

The Iraqi athletes marched in the opening ceremony while their country is undergoing painful recovery from the savaging war.

The Indonesian team joined the Games while they are still mourning for victims of the devastating volcano eruptions.

Athletes compete in the spirit of friendship and fair play although some of them may come from warring countries or regions.

But here in Guangzhou at the Asian Games, all 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia are united under the sacred flame of peace, friendship and progress.

The ideal of peace, friendship and progress is so much important for Asia as the continent has a huge population of 4.1 billion with about one quarter of them living under poverty line and some areas shaken with conflicts.

Sports may not solve conflicts but it has a unique power to attract, mobilize and inspire. People can always find courage, confidence and strength in sports, which are precisely what they need to deal with real life problems.