China passes Beach Games joy to Thailand

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Performers gesture at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, East China's Shandong province, June 22, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua] ?

HAIYANG - The 3rd Asian Beach Games closed on Friday in Haiyang, east China's coastal city in Shangdong Province, passing the joy to Phuket, Thailand, the host city of 2014 games.

Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok, vice president of Olympic Council of Asia, announced the closure of the games.

"Haiyang has held a successful games and it will make a spectacular mark in the history of Asian Beach Games," said Timothy Tsun-TingFok.

In the 11-day events, 1,601 competitors from 45 countries and regions contested for 13 events. A total of 49 gold, 49 silver, and 54 bronze medals were produced.

The games ended up with host China leading the medal table by grabbing 14 gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze. Thailand, the No.1 of 2nd games, took the second place with 13 gold, nine silver, and six bronze, while South Korea winning the third place by 6, 7, 10.

The theme of the closing ceremony was "pass the joy" with three parts corresponding celebration, reunion, and farewell respectively. After the cultural performances, all the athletes and actors danced hands in hands to spread the joy of the Asian Beach Games to all Asia.

The Asian Beach Games is one of the five major multi-sport games under the OCA. It is the first time for China to host the biannual beach sport gala. The inaugural Asian Beach Games was held in Bali, Indonesia, in October 2008 while the second edition was held in Muscat, Oman, in December 2010.

"The Haiyang Asian Beach Games, as a splendid demonstration of Olympic Movement in China, is a successful promotion for both the host city and the Games itself. The closing of the 3rd Asian Games is not the end, but the new start point of Asian people's pursuit of peace, friendship and their dreams," said Liu Peng, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

In the end of the closing ceremony, Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok passed the Olympic flag to the representative of Phuket, Thailand, the host city of 2014 Asian Beach Games.