SHENYANG, Liaoning Province, July 5 (Xinhua) -- No pop stars, and no firework display. Organizers of the 12th Chinese National Games have pledged to deliver the opening ceremony in a "frugal" manner.
"The total cost for the opening and closing ceremonies is 9 million yuan, just about 10 perecent of the original budget," said Zhu Wenbiao, an official at the organizing committee of the 12th National Games, which will take place from August 31 to September 12 in northeast China's Liaoning Province.
According to Zhu, the cost was reduced mainly because of their decision to hold the opening ceremony in the daytime.
"For the first time since China's National Games were inaugurated in 1987, the opening ceremony of the quadrennial event will take place during the daytime," said Zhu.
"Thus there will be no expense for lighting and firework display."
Zhu added that a planned art performance at the opening ceremony has also been scrapped to save the cost.
"Instead, the highlight of the opening ceremony will be a mass tachi and aerobics performance," he said.
"The stage is set for ordinary sport lovers."
People enjoy time at old teahouse in Kashgar, NW China's Xinjiang