Held in the "Flower City" of Guangzhou, China, from November 12-27, the Games will feature more than 14,000 athletes, trainers and coaches from 45 countries and regions who will compete in 42 sports.

The Games are the second largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympic Games and more than three million spectators are expected to attend.

Final construction within the city, including all beautification projects, must be completed by November 1.

More than 80 per cent of the stadiums used for training and competition during the Games will be connected by subway trains.

This includes an all-new subway line from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport - some 35 kilometers from downtown Guangzhou - linking the city of 10 million residents with the airport, which has doubled in size in anticipation of the Games and future growth of the Pearl River Delta.

The Asian Games Torch Relay has started - from its lighting last week at the Great Wall - from Beijing to 21 cities in Guangdong Province.

It will also travel to Harbin in Heilongjiang, Changchun in Jilin and Haiyang in Shandong.

More than 2,000 torch bearers ranging from six to 100 years old will participate in the one-month relay.


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