A video from the colourful opening ceremony of 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou is going viral on social media. The event had several spectacular parts, but the highlight was a giant computer-generated torch-bearer running on the Qiantang River and lighting a ceremonial flame at the Olympic Sport Centre Stadium. The shiny, golden figure carries the flame to the stadium where the games begin with the theme 'Tides Surging in Asia' - the intermingling of China, Asia and the world in the new era, as well as the unity, love and friendship of the Asian people.
Now, South China Morning Post (SCMP) has said in a report that the CGI figure was given a name - Xiao Huomiao - which means "little flame" in Mandarin.
It was created by filming the movements of Gao Yu, a student at Guangzhou Yuyan Middle School in the city's Huangpu district.
SCMP claimed that the teenager was chosen from 100 million applications because he met the criteria of being "tall with good posture, having a sports background and strong arms".
For the filming, Gao was dressed in a black CGI suit that had green and yellow pads and had to perform various movements and actions while holding one of the ceremonial torches.
"Although I did not actually appear, but to be able to participate in the opening ceremony and even light the cauldron was a really precious experience," Gao was quoted as saying by the outlet.
The CGI figure ran through the city towards the stadium as several former Olympic champions from China passed lit torches to the next person on their way to the stadium.
Xiao Huomiao was not the only bit of computer generated wizardry at the event - those watching at home were treated to an AI-generated fireworks display as the ceremony came to a close.
After being delayed by a year because of China's now-abandoned zero-Covid policy, the Asian Games started with more than 12,000 competitors from 45 nations and territories battling it out in 40 sports.
The nearly-packed 80,000 capacity 'Big Lotus' stadium was decked up elegantly for the occasion and welcomed the athletes from the participating countries, including India, with loud cheers.
Featured Video Of The Day
Katrina Kaif Attends The Screening Of Vicky Kaushal's Bad Newz
Days After India Visit, Bangladesh PM In China To Hold Talks With Xi Jinping China Pledges Support For Tajikistan 'Territorial Integrity' "China-Russia Ties At High Level": Xi After Meeting "Old Friend" Putin "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests Over 300 Indian Students Return Home As 105 Bangladeshis Killed In Protests Wife Among Two Jailed For Life For Man's Murder In Gurugram: Cops 1,100 Flights Cancelled In US As Microsoft Outage Disrupts Operations Elon Musk Congratulates PM Modi On Becoming Most Followed Leader On X Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.