The 1st Asian Beach Games Closing Ceremony in Bali

The 1st Asian Beach Games concludes in Bali, Indonesia, on Sunday, 26 October 2008, with a closing celebration meant to “Inspire the World” one last time. The Closing Ceremony held at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana, a monumental cultural park in Nusa Dua. This Ceremony is highlighted with a collaborative presentation of Indonesian traditional dances and songs from the five major islands and Bali, performed in contemporary traditional style by 150 dancers and musicians. Entertainers from Oman, the host of the next Asian Beach Games, will also perform in the Ceremony. Led by the Games' anthem "Inspire the World", participants paraded on stage in five groups: South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, West Asia and South East Asia.

Indonesia's Vice President Muhammad Yusuf Kalla attends this closing ceremony and commented that the athletes have defined sportsmanship in the Games which mark the start of the Asian Beach Games. And the chairman of the Bali Asian Beach Games Organising Committee (BABGOC), Aburizal Bakrie expressed his gratitude to all of the participants of the Games, especially the government’s strong support, which made the success of the Games possible even with limited resources.

Vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Timothy Fok, praised the dedication of all who participates, including the efforts made by BABGOC chairman Aburizal Bakrie as well as BABGOC director general and president of the Indonesia Olympic Committee Rita Subowo. Timothy Fok then announced the Games had ended. Aburizal Bakrie handed the OCA flag to Timothy Fok, and then the flag were handed it to Vice Chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee, Habib Macki. This marks the handover of the hosting of the next Asian Beach Games in 2010 to Muscat. Nine days of beachside competition in Bali, where Villa Annora is located, officially ends with the extinguishing of the flame.