HAIYANG, Shandong province - The 3rd Asian Beach Games officially raised its curtain on Saturday evening at the Heqingdao Stadium in Haiyang, an eastern China coastal city in Shangdong province, opened its arms to welcome more than 1,600 athletes from around Asia.

Ma Kai, State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council, declared openning of the Games to the roaring cheers of 18,000 spectators facing the beautiful skyline of the seaside tourist attraction of China.

After more than five years of preparation, Haiyang is ready for its biggest ever event, which gathers all the 45 member countries and regions under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Olympic champion Wang Feng lights the flame at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, East China's Shandong province, June 16, 2012. The games, which runs from June 16 to 22, features 49 events covering 13 sports. [Photo/Xinhua]

"Since the Beijing Asian Games, China has made active contributions to the development of the Olympic Movement in Asia by hosting a number of Asian multi-sports Games," said Liu Peng, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee.

"Two years ago, the Guangzhou Asian Games presented the largest event in the Asian Games history and demonstrated a harmonious Asia. Today, friends from all over Asia are gathering in China again to enjoy the beauty of the sea and sunshine and share the happiness of sport and leisure in the dynamic city of Haiyang," Liu added.

A rainbow-shaped screen was raised in the middle of the stage before the athletes paraded in the stadium. When each delegation marched onto the stage and through the "rainbow", the screen displayed the landmark building and famous scenery of the country or region.

Amid a cheerful and carnival atmosphere, a 90-minute performance themed "Symphony of Sea and Beach" unfolded as some 1,200 artists took the central stage with music, dance, drum performance and folk shows to demonstrate the concept of "Share the joy" introduced by the organizers.

Wang Feng, diving gold medallist at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, lit the main cauldron before a glamorous fireworks show brought to a close of the festive night.

The Chinese delegation enters the opening ceremony of the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, East China's Shandong province, June 16, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Asian Beach Games is one of the five major multi-sport games under the OCA. It is the first time for China to host the biyearly beach sport gala. The inaugural Asian Beach Games was held in Bali, Indonesia, in October 2008 while the second edition was held in Muscat, Oman, in December 2010.

A total of 49 gold medals will be contested in 13 sports, namely sport climbing, dragon boat, beach handball, beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach basketball, beach sepaktakraw, beach kabaddi, water skiing, beach woodball, wind surfing, roller skating and powered paragliding, with beach volleyball being the only Olympic sport.

Host China has sent a delegation of 164 athletes to the Asian Beach Games, while Thailand, another regional powerhouse on beach, also has sent 164 athletes to form one of the two biggest delegations in Haiyang.

Fireworks light up the sky during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, East China's Shandong province, June 16, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]