Syed Arif Hasan (L), vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia, Liu Peng (C), director of the State General Administration of Sports and president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, and Jiang Daming (R), governor of Shandong province, announce the start of one-year countdown to the 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, June 16, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIYANG, China - A grand celebration was held Thursday night in Haiyang, a costal city in East China's Shandong province to mark the one-year countdown to the 3rd Asian Beach Games.

Haiyang will host the Asian Beach Games from June 16 to 22 next year. Athletes from 45 countries and regions are expected to compete in 12 sports including beach volleyball, beach soccer, beach kabaddi, dragon boat and sailing.

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The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) sent invitations to the representatives of five Asian regions at the countdown ceremony attended by a host of heavyweight officials including OCA vice president Syed Arif Hasan.

Haiyang mayor Jiang Shili said at the ceremony that preparations are well on track for the largest ever event to be held in Haiyang.

"Construction of the major venues is now nearing completion, all in accordance with the standards set by the Olympic Council of Asia," said Jiang.

"By about 200 days to the Games, the venues can be put in operation,"  he added.

Temporary venues for beach soccer, cliff climbing, powered parachuting and highway skating have already come into shape and will host four test events later in June and July, according to Jiang.

Over 6,000 university students have also been recruited as volunteers for the Games.

"I believe, with the success of the Beijing Olympics and Guangzhou Asian Games, the 2012 Asian Beach Games would be a high-level event," said Syed Arif Hasan.

Indonesia's Bali Island hosted the first Asian Beach Games in 2008, and the second edition was held last year in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

Haiyang's successful bid for the Asian Beach Games put the tiny city into the spotlight and it has become a hot summer resort for Chinese people.

With "Share the Joy" as its slogan, and "Sand and Sun, Passion and Fashion" its concept, the Haiyang Games are not only about competition, but also about sharing the joy among people from Asia, said Jiang Xuening, a Haiyang official in charge of publicity.

"What sets the Asian Beach Games apart from the Olympics and Asian Games or other international sports events is that our Games is not only competitive, but also highly recreational," said Jiang Xuening.

"I hope the through organizing the Games, life of the local residents and the city infrastructure will be substantially improved," she added.