April 17, 2009 Beijing p.m. – The representative group of Road of Asia, a large-scale promotional event jointly organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC), arrived in New Dehli, India, two-time host to the Asian Games, to meet with OCA and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Secretary-General Randhir Singh and other IOA officials.

Road of Asia representative group and IOA officials pose for photo.

During his speech, Secretary-General Singh welcomed the arrival of Road of Asia, which also represents the friendship between China and India. Although the Guangzhou Asian Games is still a year and a half away, the excitement of the Asian Games is already in the air. Singh hopes he will have the chance to take the Road of Asia flagship Cocachine to Guangzhou.

Singh attended the Road of Asia inauguration ceremony in Kuwait back in March. He vividly remembers that day’s events. According to Singh, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Chairman Jacques Rogge and OCA President Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah both boarded the Cocachine. They and other OCA officials present all praised Road of Asia’s creativity in making use of the Cocachine. Road of Asia’s creativity is remarkable in that it is the first such large-scale promotional event seen by either the Olympics or the Asian Games. A model for future marketing efforts, Road of Asia has come up with very effective ways to communicate the spirit of friendship and promote the Guangzhou Asian Games.

When Singh visited China six months ago, he saw that the smooth progress made toward the Asian Games. He believes that GAGOC is accomplishing a grand task. China’s successful execution of the Olympic Games has made China as well as the whole of Asia proud. As an Indian, Singh is also proud of China’s achievement. He believes China’s experience with the Olympics will certainly help Guangzhou organize a successful Asian Games.

Singh promised that India will send its strongest athletes to participate in the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games. The number of Indian athletes is likely to reach between 450 to 500, making them the largest Asian Games contingent India has ever assembled.

Road of Asia Chief Representative Yuan Yue interacts with IOA Secretary-General Singh.

Road of Asia Chief Representative Yuan Yue stated, “One of the world’s four major civilizations, India is a great and diverse nation. It is also where the Asian Games first started. Interacting with you and promoting the Guangzhou

Asian Games here no doubt carry a lot of meaning and far-reaching implications!”

The two sides then exchanged souvenirs. On behalf of the IOA, Singh accepted OCA’s gift of a gold replica of the Cocachine and signed the Road of Asia certificate of passage. Guangzhou Asian Games sponsor the TCL Corporation also presented its gifts to the IOA.

The IOA gave GAGOC many practical suggestions. The two sides also exchanged views on how best to develop their respective markets. Later, Singh gladly accepted the interview with the Road of Asia representative group. At the interview, a cheerful Singh recounted his lifelong experience with sports, especially the experience of having relatives in his father’s generation who participated in the very first Asian Olympics. He is proud to be born into a family of athletes and even prouder of Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first ever individual gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Bindra’s success no doubt sets an example for Indian athletes and will help encourage them to perform better.

Chairman Rogge believes that the Road of Asia holds important significance in the passing down of history and the exchange of cultures. Revisiting the Maritime Silk Road revives a beautiful chapter in history. The Road of Asia theme “Fun Games Fun Party” fully convey the concepts of unity, friendship, and exchange, concepts embodied within the Olympic spirit. He hopes Road of Asia will bring joy to the people of Asia.

Road of Asia has already successfully concluded the West Asia and South Asia legs of its itinerary. Road of Asia’s next stop will be the Southeast Asian nation of Malaysia.