Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

The 9th Asian Winter Games (AWG) kicked off in China's "ice city" of Harbin on Friday, with international officials and athletes hailing the spectacular opening ceremony as a resounding success, featuring a captivating torch-lighting ceremony and dazzling performances that left spectators in awe.

The opening ceremony reached its climax when four torchbearers - two-time Olympic champion and short track speed skater Yang Yang, China's first male Winter Olympic gold medalist and freestyle skier Han Xiaopeng, Olympic race walk champion Wang Zhen, and Sochi Winter Olympics speed skating champion Zhang Hong - joined by children holding ice lanterns, lit the lilac-shaped cauldron at the opening ceremony's sub-venue of the Harbin Ice and Snow World.

"I'm very impressed with the show. It's nice that they could bring us all the way out here from the mountains. But I wasn't expecting the ice skaters to come out of nowhere. We were all looking at the floor and we were wondering how they were doing it. You know, that was pretty cool," said a Singaporean athlete.

"The ceremony was amazing, every part of it, every part of the show, it was amazing. Like I can't even pick one, which one was my favorite because everything was amazing," said a Kyrgyzstan athlete.

"It's a great environment and we are happy to be here as a part of the Asian Winter Games 2025. And it's nice [organization], even we have come from Yabuli because of good transportation to make the commute for the athletes. I think the show is very nice. And especially the background of the stage is impressive," said Taratip Chantawat, deputy head of the Thai delegation.

Framed by children's dreams of inspiration, pursuit, and fulfillment, the gala performance, featuring chapters titled "Blazing Ice and Snow," "Passion in Motion" and "Everlasting Friendship," vividly portrayed hope and resilience.

The performance opened with ice harvesters and ballet dancers symbolizing harmony with nature, while the Games' emblem "Breakthrough" was illuminated. It then showcased the thrill of winter sports and a joyful ice carnival, concluding with vibrant Asian dances and a unifying "Asian balcony concert."

Running from February 7 to 14, the Harbin Games, with the slogan "Dream of Winter, Love among Asia," represents another major international winter sports event hosted by China following the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. It also marks the country's third time hosting the AWG, following Harbin 1996 and Changchun 2007.

A record 34 countries and regions are competing in Harbin 2025, surpassing the previous high set at the 8th AWG in Sapporo, Japan in 2017.

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

Asian Winter Games opening ceremony dazzles int'l officials, athletes

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests