Guangzhou in China will play host to the 16th Asian Games 2010, where cricket will make its debut.

Apart from cricket, the Games will also witness four new disciplines - dance sport, dragon boat, roller sport and weiqi.

The Games' organisers, who were in Delhi on Tuesday, said the show will be even more spectacular with the introduction of cricket, which will be played in the 20-20 format.

Top Test-playing nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka will participate in the event.

The organisers said the decision to introduce cricket was taken keeping in mind that the game is a way of life for several people in Asia.

Olympic Council of Asia secretary Randhir Singh said, "China, although not a cricketing country, was keen to introduce cricket."

Fang Daer, Director Marketing Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee, said the introduction of cricket will not only provide a big boost to the Games but also help promote the game in China.

Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, while expressing happiness about cricket being introduced at the Asiad, however, said it is good that it is not part of the Commonwealth Games that India will host in 2010 as it could disturb other events.

He felt with the Asian Games including cricket, the discipline could soon be introduced in the Olympics [Images] too.

Guangzhou falls in the southern part of China. 45 countries will participate in the two-week extravganza. The Games will play host to 14,000 althelets who will participate in 42 disciplines, which will be hosted at 62 venues.

The organisers say that preparation is already underway. The theme of the Games will be Green Asian Games and officials are aiming at balancing urban construction projects with ecological environment protection.

Major stadiums where the event will be hosted are: Guangzhou Olympics Sports Centre, Guangzhou stadium, Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Centre, Huangpu Sports Centre.

The emblem: The design outlines a contour of five goats that is identical to the shape of a torch. The goat is an auspicious animal and considered to be lucky in ancient Chinese languages.