The opening and closing ceremonies were held along the Pearl River in Haixinsha Island, and was the first time in history that the opening ceremony for a major sports event was not held inside a stadium.
Upacara pembukaan dan penutupan digelar di sepanjang Sungai Pearl di Pulau Haixinsha, dan merupakan pertama kalinya dalam sejarah bahwa upacara pembukaan untuk acara olahraga besar tidak diadakan di dalam stadion.