16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China

Perhaps only in China could an event with such massive numbers make sense. The Asian Games in Guangzhou feature 476 events in 42 different sports played in 53 venues. Additionally, 45 nations sent almost 10,000 athletes. As expected, China itself has a commanding lead in the medal count, further illustrating a growing international sports dominance that was first fully felt at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The Games wrap up on November 27. ( 42 photos total)

Fireworks explode from the Guangzhou TV Tower during the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou November 12. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

Dancers peform during the opening ceremony November 12. (PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Drummers perform during the opening ceremony at Haixinsha Square November 12. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) #

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony November 12. AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) #

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony November 12. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Performers take part in the opening ceremony November 12. (REUTERS/David Gray) #

A volunteer soaks up the atmosphere during the opening ceremony at Haixinsha Square November 12. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

Athletes dive into the water at the start of the women's individual triathlon at the Triathlon Venue November 13. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) #

Yuya Horihata of Japan celebrates after winning gold in the men's 400m individual medley final November 13. (PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Dancers perform during the semifinal of the Latin five-dance competition November 13. (REUTERS/Bobby Yip) #

Zhang Lin of China competes in the 200m freestyle heat November 14. (FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images) #

China's Ma Lin serves during the table tennis team event November 14. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

Sun Yang of China swims in the men's 200m freestyle swimming final November 14. (REUTERS/David Gray) #

China's Huang Qiushuang performs a routine on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics event November 14. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria) #

Farshad Arabi of Iran competes in the nanquan section of the wushu competition at Nansha Gymnasium November 15. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) #

Luiza Galiulina of Uzbekistan competes on the beam in the all-around individual artistic gymnastics event November 15. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Jae Sung Chung of South Korea reacts winning the team badminton final at Tianhe Gymnasium November 15. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) #

Shu Thing Beh (right) of Malaysia celebrates with teammate Teck Hua Luk after beating China during a preliminary match November 15. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images) #

Muhammad Sya Husin of Malaysia (right) attempts to block the shot from Wang Jian of China in their speak takraw team preliminary match at Haizhu Sports Centre November 16. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) #

Alexandra Podryadova of Kazakhstan fights Wu Shugen of China during their -48kg judo match November 16. (MIKE CLARKE/AFP/Getty Images) #

A bad crash marred the final of the women's points race at the velodrome November 16. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) #

Samaresh Jung of India competes in the 25m standard pistol shooting event November 17. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) #

Lu Yong of China reacts after a missed attempt during the 85kg weightlifting event November 17. (REUTERS/Mick Tsikas) #

Artists perform before the final matches of taekwondo November 17. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

Moshen Mohammadseifi of Iran receives a kick to the head from Jun Yul Kim of South Korera in the 60kg sanshou final at Nansha Gymnasium November 17. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) #

Members of the Indonesian team (bottom) paddle against Myanmar (center) and Taiwan during the 1000m dragon boat straight race November 17. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

Lee Seung Joon of Korea competes in an individual squash match against Abdullah Almezayen of Kuwait at Asian Games Town Gymnasium November 18. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

Taiwan's players celebrate after defeating Japan in their baseball semifinal game November 18. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) #

South Korea's Chul Buyung Choi celebrates after defeating Hong Kong's Lun Siu Cheung in the individual foil fencing final November 20. (REUTERS/Mick Tsikas) #

Marie Yamaguchi (left) of Japan tumbles against Singapore during a rugby preliminary match November 21. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images) #

Zhang Gui Rong of Singapore competes in the shot put final November 21. (PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) #

Saeid Abdvali of Iran celebrates victory over Darkhan Bayakhmetov of Kazakhstan in the gold medal match of the Greco-Roman 66kg wrestling event at Huagong Gymnasium November 21. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) #

South Korea's Jung Ji-hyun (right) wrestles with Iran's Noroozi Omid during the Greco-Roman 60kg wrestling finals November 21. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) #

Amornrat Winatho of Thailand lies on the floor after falling in the hepathlon 100m hurdles event November 22. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images) #

Atsushi Naganuma of Japan moves the ball under water against South Korea during their preliminary water polo match at the Tianhe Natatorium November 22. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) #

Iran's Malihe Miri is tackled as she tries to score a point against Taiwan during their kabaddi game November 22. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria) #

Mai Nakagawa and Sayaka Shibusawa of Japan compete in the synchronized 3m springboard diving final at Aoti Aquatics Centre November 22. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) #

South Korea's Kim Jong-eun celebrates after scoring a goal during a field hockey game against Japan November 22. (REUTERS/Mick Tsikas) #

Yu Okamoto and Sho Sakai of Japan compete in the synchronized 10m platform diving event at Aoti Aquatics Centre November 23. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) #

Ali Ahmad S Alamri of Saudi Arabia lands in the water as he competes in the 3000m steeplechase final at Aoti Main Stadium November 23. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) #

Uzbekistan's Yuliya Tarasova competes in the long jump event November 23. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) #

Dancers perform prior to the men's team gold foil finals of the fencing competition November 23. (MIKE CLARKE/AFP/Getty Images) #