Hopes for success in Guangzhou
Hopes for success in Guangzhou Like many other diplomats(外交官) across Asia, Ikram Adyrbekov, the Kazakhstan(哈萨克斯坦) ambassador [æmˈbæsədə](大使)to China, believes that the true significance [siɡˈnifikəns](意义) of the Guangzhou Asian games lies in its potential [pəˈtenʃəl](潜力)to help unite [ju:ˈnait](团结) countries across the continent [ˈkɔntinənt](亚洲)and create a truly harmonious Asia(和谐亚洲). He said: "Asia is a continent composed of a number of countries with rich cultural resources.(丰富的文化资源) In order to create a genuinely harmonious Asia, we have to respect these different cultures and allow them to work together." He believes that the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games, like the Beijing Olympic Games before it, will offer audiences an unforgettable visual treat(难忘的视觉盛宴). He has high expectations, in particular, of both the opening and closing ceremonies(开闭幕式). He said the Chinese people's traditional warm hospitality(传统的热情接待) and state-of-the-art sports venues(具有先进水平的体育场馆) have left a deep impression on him: "Guangzhou has successfully constructed and renovated(修复) a large number of sports venues(体育场馆) and facilities within a short time, with the majority of the preparation work already completed." Turning to the preparation work undertaken by the Kazakhstan team in the buildup to the Games, Adyrbekov recalled(回忆) the country's successes at the 15th Asian Games, held four years ago in Doha in Qatar. Overall(总的来说), the Kazakhstan team took fourth place(第四名), winning a total of 85 medals (23 gold, 20 silver, 42 bronze). This ranked it just behind China, South Korea and Japan. Recalling this success, he said: "In recent years, the ability of our athletes to win medals, in both Asian and global tournaments(全球性的比赛), has continued to improve. We have won both in the International Tour(国际巡回赛) and the Olympics. These achievements(成就) would have been impossible without the support of our national leadership [ˈli:dəʃip](领导)." Kazakhstan's athletes have participated(参加) in the Asian Games since the 1990s.
