page_title: 2006 Asian Games
section_title: Opening ceremony
hierarchical_section_title: 2006 Asian Games / The Games / Opening ceremony
caption_attribution_description: Fireworks from the opening ceremony of the 2006 Asian Games at Doha
context_page_description: The 2006 Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, was an Asian multi-sport event held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to 15, 2006 with 424 events in 39 sports featured in the games. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games.
  It was the first time that all 45 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia took part in this event. Also, Eurosport broadcast the event, marking the first time that the European continent could watch this Asian sporting event. 21 competition venues were used for the Games including the newly constructed Aspire indoor sports complex. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games were held at Khalifa International Stadium. Trampoline discipline of gymnastics, and the sports of chess and triathlon made their debut at the event.
  The final medal tally was led by China followed by South Korea and Japan with host Qatar at ninth place. Tajikistan, Jordan and United Arab Emirates won their first ever Asian Games gold medals. 7 world and 23 Asian records were broken during the games, while South Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan was announced as the most valuable player.
context_section_description: The opening ceremony was viewed by 50,000 spectators in the Khalifa International Stadium, and famous guests such as the International Olympic Committee's Jacques Rogge, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Syrian President Bashar Assad. The opening ceremony was directed by David Atkins, who conducted the 2000 Summer Olympics opener.
  The opening ceremony presented the culture of the Arab World as well as other Asian cultures and their histories. Several musical artists such as Hong Kong's Jacky Cheung, India's Bollywood star Sunidhi Chauhan, Lebanon's Majida El Roumi and Spanish tenor José Carreras performed at the ceremony. The ceremony ended with the lighting of the torch on the Aspire Tower by Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani, son of the emir and captain of the Qatar equestrian endurance team.
  The games was officially opened by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
caption: Fireworks display at the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha with the Games' cauldron at the background
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