HANGZHOU, China, Sept 23 (Reuters) - China's eastern city of Hangzhou stepped up security ahead of the Asian Games opening ceremony later on Saturday as organisers hope to get the sporting extravaganza off to a smooth start with President Xi Jinping among the dignitaries set to attend.
Roads in a sizeable 'traffic control area' around the city's Olympic stadium were blocked off, at least one metro station was shut, and other Games centres were closed off ahead of an opening ceremony organisers say will be "mesmerizing".
Some of those making the trek out towards the stadium were left frustrated by the size of the sealed off area.
Organisers hope a high-tech opening ceremony on Saturday will help drum up excitement for the Games.
Dozens of smiling volunteers greeted arriving journalists in Hangzhou this week, with some expressing relief that the event was finally getting started.
Persons:
Xi Jinping, Li Jian, Xiaolan, @Future, Xi, Beijing's, Bashar al, Assad, Anurag Thakur, Martin Quin Pollard, Ian Ransom, Xihao Jiang, Peter Rutherford
Organizations:
Games, Thomson
Locations:
HANGZHOU, China, Hangzhou, Asia, Syria, India, Tokyo