The curtain-raiser incorporated the technology heavily throughout as a crowd of around 50,000 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium were treated to stunning light shows and 3D projections depicting moments of the city's past.

A change from the traditional use of fireworks at Opening Ceremonies was a surprise from the host country, the inventors of the explosive display, but it still produced the same awe-inspiring reaction from the crowd.

Wang was the final figure to receive the Torch including double London 2012 champion swimmer Ye Shiwen, world number one male table tennis player Fan Zhendong, and 13-time badminton world champion shuttler Li Lingwei.

He then took the Flame to the Cauldron alongside the giant gold projection to mark the beginning of the Games, due to run until October 8 following a COVID-19-induced postponement last year.

The Cauldron was inspired by the "Tides Surging" slogan which featured throughout the Ceremony, symbolising unity across Asia.

The piece was made out of industrial metals said to represent masculinity and strength, while its curves were meant to represent femininity and agility.

Organisers are eager to deliver a carbon-free Games and as such, the traditional firework show was replaced by an LED equivalent.

Xi Jinping's arrival at the stadium got the Ceremony underway and he was joined in the Presidential area by foreign Heads of State who were his guests. 

There seemed to be no ill feeling towards him and the Hong Kong delegation even held up a portrait of the Chinese President, signifying their support for him, as they came out in the Parade of Nations.

Xi's guests included a line-up of leaders including King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, Crown Prince of Kuwait Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Assad's presence marks his first visit to China since 2004 and is being viewed as a critical moment for the two countries' relations.

The cultural elements were brought to life by technology that allowed spectators to witness 3D images with the naked eye.

The importance of water was ever-present due to its significance in Chinese culture.

It symbolised the history of the Qiantang River, the "thrill of sports", and Zhejiang's spirit.

The osmanthus flower, dance, song, and poetry was also utilised to showcase values that have been passed down through the millennia in the region since the days of the Liangzhu City which is around 5,000 years old and located in modern day Hangzhou.

There were just two sports in action today with competition taking place in the table tennis team events and sailing.

Vietnam came from behind in the women's tournament to beat Saudi Arabia 3-1 and seal the final Group A qualification spot to the knockout rounds.

North Korea swept past Nepal 3-0 in a winner takes all clash in Group B while all of the results in the women's tournaments were won by the same scoreline. 

It resulted in India, Uzbekistan, Thailand, North Korea, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan securing their progress.

Indian Olympian Vishnu Saravanan kept hold of first place in the men's ILCA 7 competition despite a seventh place finish.

He was forced to use his discard and remains on a net score of seven courtesy of good results from the first three races.

Singaporean Lo Jun Han Ryan is hot on his tail after finishing first to equal the net score.

The first medals of the Games are set to be won tomorrow in swimming, fencing, artistic gymnastics, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, shooting, taekwondo, and wushu.