But the evening event is at the mercy of the elements, with heavy rain pounding the usually dry desert state.

The extravagenza will go ahead regardless, organisers say, heralding the most ambitious Asian Games so far with more than 13,000 athletes from 39 countries angling for gold in 45 events.

The competition runs until December 15, with China heavily favoured to top the medal table.

But it was dealt another blow Friday when big-name star, Japan's Olympic hammer champion Koji Murofushi, pulled out with a calf muscle injury.

It follows the withdrawl Thursday of two-time 3000 metres steeplechase world champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen with an Achilles injury.

The tiny Gulf state, home to just 700,000 people, most expatriate foreign workers, has pumped billions of dollars in transforming Doha for the Games with the country's rulers believing it will provide a lasting legacy.

From extravagant plans to host the 2016 Olympic Games to the more modest 2015 Asian Cup, to boosting tourism and cutting obesity, they insist that the spectacular infrastructure changes, many still in progress, will be of enormous benefit.

But there have been teething problems from the outset.

Expatriate construction workers say contractors have failed to pay them while complaints surfaced Friday about "rude and unhelpful" officials.

"Some of the officials have been very rude and unhelpful at our training sessions," a spokesman for the Indian shooting team reporters. "We have brought it to the notice of the organisers."

Details of the opening ceremony, starting at 1600 GMT, have been kept under tight wraps although organisers said it will be the biggest and boldest ever seen in Asia, eclipsing the Sydney Olympics.

Sections are expected to focus on the history of Asia, the Silk Road and Arabian horsemen.

"With a cast of 7,000 local people, this will be the biggest ceremony Asia has ever seen," said Sharif Omar Hashisho, the director of ceremonies and cultural events for the Asian Games.

The three hour 20 minute ceremony at the 50,000-seater Khalifa Stadium will be beamed live around the world to a potential viewing audience of three billion people.

Hong Kong's Cheung, a movie star and pioneer of Cantopop, will perform a song specifically written for the event while Bollywood sensation Sunidhi Chauhan will sing Reach Out as a salute to the athletes taking part.

The event will be notable for South and North Korean athletes marching together in the first sign of reconciliation since the communist North staged a nuclear weapons test on October 9, raising tensions on the divided peninsula.

The two sides have agreed to march under a blue and white "unification flag", officials quoted by Yonhap news agency said, although there will be no joint team with nuclear tensions souring any chance of that.

It will also be the first Games in 20 years for Iraq.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad head the guest list for the opening gala.

Ahmadinejad, who this week launched a scathing attack on President George W. Bush's policies, toured the athletes village Friday amid tight security, with reporters and photographers barred.

He was scheduled to meet Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, a key US ally, to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.

It is the first time that the Games has been held in the Gulf region and only the second time in the Middle East. Iran was host in 1974.

Other than the opening ceremony, no events are scheduled for Friday with the competition proper kicking off on Saturday.