DOHA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games is underway in drizzles in the capital of the first Arab hosting country here on Friday.

The 50,000-capacity Khalifa Stadium, venue of the ceremony, is filled with spectators as the three-hour 20-minute ceremony was being beamed live around the world to a potential viewing audience of three billion people.

Jacky Cheung, a movie star and popular singer from Hong Kong, China, will perform a song specifically written for the Games.

More than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete in 39 sports of the Games, which runs from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15.

China is expected to top the medal table again with huge advantage.