2008 Asian Beach Games

About a month ago in Bali, Indonesia, the inaugural 2008 Asian Beach Games came to its conclusion. Intended to promote sports and culture, the games (held every two years) encourage tourism, support local economies and allow host countries like Indonesia to present a more global face to the world. The 2008 games brought 6,000 athletes to compete in 71 events in 19 sports. Sports included well-known games like beach volleyball and triathlon, and some sports better known to asians, like sepak takraw, kabaddi and pencak silat. The next Asian Beach Games are scheduled to be hosted by Oman in the year 2010. (25 photos total)

Daiki Masuda of Japan dives out of the water in the swim leg of the men's triathlon on day nine of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Mertasari Beach on October 26, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Athletes prepare in the water before the start of the Men's Triathlon on day nine of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Mertasari Beach on October 26, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

Andi Edinata of Indonesia comes out of the water during the Men's Triathlon on day nine of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Mertasari Beach on October 26, 2008. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

A cauldron burns above a statue during the Opening Ceremony of the First Asian Beach Games at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park on October 18, 2007 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. The games continued through October 26, 2008. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

Balinese dancers perform during the Opening ceremony of the first Asian Beach Games at culture in park Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bali, Indonesia, Saturday , Oct. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) #

The Indonesian team in action against Myanmar during the men's beach sepaktakraw on day six of the Asian Beach Games at Sanur Beach on October 23, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

Dragon Boats sit at the docks before the start of the Dragon Boat Races on day two of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at West Suwung on October 19, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

The Indonesian men's team competes in the 1000m Dragon Boat grand final on day two of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at West Suwung on October 19, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

Eddy Ratno Haji Abu Bakar and Mohd Khairul Bahri of Brunei perform in the Double Men's Final of the beach pencak silat on day five of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Tanjung Benoa Beach on October 22, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) #

Nga Latip of Vietnam competes against Ria Puspita Sari of Indonesia of Singapore during the women's beach pencak silat on day three of the Asian Beach Games at Tanjung Benoa Beach on October 20, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

Hoiriyah of Indonesia competes during the Mistral OD class windsurfing on day four of the Asian Beach Games at Serangan Island on October 21, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

A Japanese surfer competes during the team surfing challenge on day six of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Kuta Beach on October 23, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images) #

Faisal Al-Balushi of Oman kicks a goal in the match bewteen Oman and United Arabic Emirates during the Beach Soccer on day six of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Mertasari Beach on October 23, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

Athletes compete in the men's 60kg body building competition on day three of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Kuta Beach on October 20, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

Rosmadi Bin Abd Ghani of Malaysia tries to kick the ball past Phakpong Dejaroen of Thailand beach sepak takraw match on day seven of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Sanur Beach on October 24, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

A competitor prepares to launch during the paragliding competition on day five of the Asian Beach Games at Timbis on October 22, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

Participants compete in the paragliding distance flying style in Jimbaran during the first Asian Beach Games 2008 on the resort island of Bali on October 22, 2008. (SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Alexandra Turichsheva of Kazakhstan signals to her partner in the Women's Beach Volleyball on day four of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Sanur Beach on October 21, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

A Yemeni player serves during the Pool C match between Indonesia and Yemen in the Beach Volleyball competition on day three of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Sanur Beach on October 20, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images) #

A competitor flies above the ocean during the paragliding competition on day seven of the Asian Beach Games at Timbis on October 23, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

A competitor flies over the ocean during the paragliding competition on day seven of the Asian Beach Games at Timbis on October 23, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) #

Chinese player Gong Yan prepares to launch the ball to Thailand during the women's beach handball final at the inaugural Asian Beach Games 2008, in Sanur on October 25, 2008. (SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Jittapa Tubjan Jitadech Akul of Thailand is tackled by India during their beach kabaddi match on day five of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Nusa Dua Beach on October 22, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. India won the match to win the gold medal. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

A competitor in action during the paragliding competition on day six of the Asian Beach Games at Timbis on October 23, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) #

A pilot in competition during the paragliding event on day four of the 2008 Asian Beach Games at Timbis on October 21, 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. (Mark Nolan/Getty Images) #

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