LIVE Incheon Asian Games 2014

One of the perks being a WowKorea supporters is that we are able to attend big events such as the opening ceremony of Incheon Asian Games 2014.

                                           A filled stadium 

Before we went to the stadium we were brought into a rooftop of a small flat. Nor that I know this small rooftop is where broadcast stations get their amazing overall view of the venue.

I have always been interested in broadcasting but had never gotten the opportunity to experience one. On that day, I did. I now know people why people tend to avoid working in broadcasting because the amount of work people put into it are endless.

 

behind the scene

 

Here you see in the photo, the rooftop was pretty much empty except a platform high enough to elevate the host. There were only two cameras, one for panning and one for the announcer. There were no tables or fancy equipments they usually have on studios. The crew would keep standby for the whole night until the celebrations finish. What a dedication!

the view we get from the rooftop

 WowKorea supporters were interviewed live by one of the broadcasting station

main entrance of the stadium

 excited peeps

 our ticket. cost more that I think it should

wonderful light work

 

Of course alert for our national team. There were only a few as some athletes didn't arrived yet.

The next day we went to see one of the match, Sepaktakraw. So to happen that our national team is playing and we met some other Indonesian students who came to support the team. The court looks pretty legit for a sport that is yet to be known by many people. Sepaktakraw in short is like volleyball using feet instead of hands. It requires much more energy and flexibility especially as players tend to fall to the ground much more often. Sepak = kick  and  Takraw= ball is a popular sport especially in South East Asian region. After watching the game, I do hope that this sport would receive more publicity because it's fun to watch and harder that it looks.

 Two Thumbs up for all athletes out there

 

All cheer for the team

After the game, the people from SepakTakraw federation Indonesia saw us and kindly offered us to meet the athletes. I am liking these back stage perks.

However I was slightly dissapointed at the organisers' as the waiting room looked more like a refurbished trailer. :(

 

infront of athletes waiting room

 

           inside the 'waiting room' athletes congratulating each other

 running to get autographs of the players

 athletes = stars

The opening ceremony, the impromptu interview, the sepaktakraw, it was all an amazing experience that I  have never encountered before. I have never been well informed with sports but after seeing the hard work the athletes have done, be it a win or a lose they deserve our deepest respect. I mean it must be hard carrying the entire nation's name in your back. I do hope that in the future the government would invest on sports education back home rather than maths and physics. Do you agree? Especially with the next Asian Games in 2018 will be hold in Jakarta :D