Incheon, South Korea: K-pop is the word at the moment as South Korea hosts the Asian Games for a third time when opening its arms to the 17th edition in Incheon from Friday.
Coinciding with the Games, the inaugural K-pop Expo in Asia officially kicked off on Thursday.
The two-week-long live music event is meant to highlight Korean music not just among the participants and guests, but to the world at large. There is a buzz here on the music showcase as South Korea aims to create a huge festival for the 4.5 billion Asians spread across the globe.
Concerts will be held daily from 10.30am to 10pm at four specially set up stages at the North Incheon Bakhap-danji, a little more than 5km from the main Asian Games Sports Complex.
The main stage is billed to host some of the industry’s biggest acts, including boy bands 2PM, Boyfriend and Block B, and girl groups Sistar, Girl’s Day, Rainbow and Kara. Ticket prices range from 12,000 won (Dh40) to 55,000 won.
Athlete’s oath
An archer and a fencer from South Korea have been chosen to recite the athletes’ oath at Friday’s opening ceremony to be held at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium.
Oh Jin-hyek, who will be competing in men’s archery, and Nam Hyun-hee, a female foil fencer, have been named to take the traditional pledge of commitment to the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play on behalf of the approximate 13,000 athletes participating in this edition.
Oh and Nam will become the third South Korean duo to take the oath at a multi-sport competition staged in South Korea. Volleyball star Kim Ho-chul and archer Kim Jin-ho took the oath at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, while basketball sensation Hur Jae and handball player Son Mi-na had the honour at the 1988 Summer Olympics in the same city.
Wrong honour
Finally, a support staff member from the Iranian delegation has earned a considerable amount of attention here, but for the wrong reasons. The unnamed person, who is part of the coaching staff for the Iranian football team, was booked, but without physical detention, on suspicion of sexually harassing one of the volunteers when Iran played Vietnam at the Ansan Wa Stadium on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old man is said to have requested the volunteer to take a picture of him at the stadium. But he was arrested later after the girl complained to her line manager of harassment. South Korean police are said to be debating an overseas travel ban on the Iranian.
Iran, one of the pre-tournament favourites in football, did not have a good day on the field either as they went down 4-1 against Vietnam in their Group H preliminary match.
