A total of 480 voluntary cheer squads will be selected for an opportunity to enter the 2010 Asian Games venues to cheer for athletes from different countries and regions, the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) said on Thursday.

The competition started on April 28 and will last four months, comprising 48 preliminary contests, four qualifying contests and final selection with some 100,000 people expected to take part, according to the GAGOC.

Organizers will select 480 cheer squads, which will compete in the preliminary round. Forty eight winning teams in the preliminary round will participate in the qualifying round, which will see 16 teams enter the final competition.

The 16th Asian Games, which are held every four years, will take place in Guangzhou from November 12 to 27, 2010. More than 14,000 athletes, trainers and coaches from 45 countries and regions are expected to compete in 42 sports.