HANGZHOU: The Asian Games` flame was lit on Thursday to mark 100 days until the competition, with an elaborate ceremony at an ancient Chinese archaeological site that used the sun`s rays to set the torch alight.

The Games in Hangzhou were due to take place in September 2022 but were postponed by a year because of China`s strict zero-Covid rules.

On Wednesday, organisers admitted there had been `a lot of difficulties` but said that venues were ready and that preparations were in the final stage.

`I am very proud,` an 18-year-old student named Ye told news agency AFP in the eastern Chinese city on Thursday.

`[Hangzhou] just feels alive, and full of the atmosphere of the Asian Games.

The flamelighting ceremony took place at the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Liangzhu city, about an hour from Hangzhou, and was attended by government officials and local media.

Against a verdant mountain backdrop, over a dozen `flame collectors` in long white dresses processed among the ruins, before one woman knelt beside a large concave mirror and used it to set a slim torch alight.

The fire was then transferred to a cauldron before being passed on againto a flame lantern, with state media saying it would be used in a torch relay that starts in mid-September.

Nestled in the suburban area of Hangzhou, Liangzhu boasts some of the earliest recorded evidence of Chinese civilization with a history that can be traced back to 3,300 years B.C.

Known for the prehistoric rice-cultivating civilizations of China and exquisite jade ware, as well as the country`s earliest known large-scale water conservation network, Liangzhu was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2019.

In downtown Hangzhou on Thursday, an outdoor screen by the city`s famous lake showed a countdown to the Games` opening.

Adverts for the competition and shops selling merchandise were widespread, with pop-up events to commemorate the 100-day mark taking place at a railway station in the city.

`Because of the pandemic, everyone is looking forward to our Asian Games, a 43-year-old man surnamed Fu told AFP.

`Finally, after waiting for a year, we are ready to see what kind of new look Hangzhou can bring to the whole of Asia.

We are really looking forward to it.He said he was particularly looking forward to the football, adding that he hoped the beleaguered national team could `make a breakthrough this time`.

The torch lighting and torch relay launching ceremony will be held at Hangzhou`s scenic landmark West Lake, another UNESCO World Heritage site, in mid-September, and the torch will be carried through 11 cities in Zhejiang Province.

A virtual torch relay kicked off on Thursday, state news agency Xinhua said adding that over 21 million people were participating as `digital torchbearers` through various online platforms.

China`s status as a sporting destination took a severe hit during the first three years of the pandemic, when snap lockdowns and travel rules saw almost all international events cancelled in the country.

The Games, one of the world`s largest multi-sport events, begin on September 23 and last two weeks.

MEDAL DESIGN UNVEILED Organisers also unveiled the medals for the Games on Thursday as well as the materials to be used at award ceremonies.

The medals, named `Shan Shui,which translates to `Lake and Mountain,` draw inspiration from the Liangzhu culture, a testament to the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, and represent the geographicalfeatures of Hangzhou.

Characterised by the ceremonial jade Cong of the Liangzhu culture, this is the first time a square jade has been combined with a round medal. The front side depicts a picture scroll of Hangzhou, surrounded by misty hills on three sides and the city on one side.

The reverse side of the medals takes the shape of a square seal, symbolizing the athletes` beautiful mark on the Asian Games.

The design also encapsulates Hangzhou`s identity as an ecological civilization capital, with its natural landscapes, clear waters, and green hills. It embodies the sportsmanship of reaching great heights through hard work and self-challenge.

Adhering to the green concept of the Games, the medals will be attached to a hand-stitched ribbon using brocade jacquard technology and eco-friendly printing techniques. A bridge-shaped buckle at the top underscores the Jiangnan characteristics of the water town and the bridge town.-Agencies