HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani races up the ramp on horseback to light the flame
The Asian Games began December 1 in Doha, Qatar. Athletes from 45 countries and regions entered the stadium — with North Korea and South Korea marching together — for the event billed as “the games of your life.” They will compete in 46 different sports — in a total of 424 different events.The honor of lighting the 50-meter Asian Games cauldron was given to the emir’s son Muhammad, who is the captain of Qatar’s equestrian endurance team. Astride a purebred Arabian gelding, he received the Asian Games flame at the end of its 55,000-kilometer relay route. He rode up a flight of stairs to the top of the stadium to light the torch.
Talal Mansour passes the flame to HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani on horseback, who had the honour of lighting the cauldron
Athletes will be competing for medals in many sports, including dressage, eventing, show jumping and endurance. (full list here)
Desert horsemen on Arabian horses enter the Khalifa Stadium
More at I Gallop On, and yes, K, I totally agree about the galloping up steps thing! 
Bridlepath 