Doha, which has announced plans to bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, wants to make a big impression at this regional event. The opening ceremony made a statement, and the state-of-the-art venues will be put to full use over the next 15 days.

South Korean basketballer Lee Kyu-sup and North Korean women's soccer player Ri Kum Suk carried the "unification flag" ahead of a joint North and South Korean delegation. This was the eighth time the two Koreas, technically still at war, have marched together at the opening of an international sporting events.

They will compete here as separate teams.

Meetings between officials from the North and South about forming a joint Korean team for the Beijing 2008 Olympic continued Friday without any formal resolutions.

Iraq, back in the games after its suspension from the Olympic Council of Asia was revoked, received a loud cheer when its delegation marched into the stand immediately before Japan, one of the biggest delegations here.

The Japanese delegation had a setback when Olympic hammer throw champion Koji Murofushi withdrew because of a leg injury.

The first 17 gold medals at the games will be awarded Saturday, mostly in swimming and shooting.

The Olympic Council of Asia also will hold a general assembly meeting where it is expected to hear pitches from three cities bidding for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Representatives from Pyeongchang, South Korea, and Sochi, Russia, and Salzburg, Austria have announced they will make presentations to the OCA meeting.

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