ASIAN GAMES

ASIAD

      

The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the breakup of the Asian Games Federation. The Games are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and are described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.

In its history, nine nations have hosted the Asian Games. 46 nations have participated in the Games, including Israel, which was excluded from the Games after their last participation in 1974.

Prior formation

Before the Asian Games were held, there was a gathering known as the Far Eastern Games which was first mooted in 1912 between Empire of Japan, the Philippine Islands and China. The first Games were then held in Manila in 1913 and ten further gatherings were held until 1934. However, against the backdrop of the second Sino-Japanese War in 1934, in the face of Japan's insistence on including Manchu Empire as competitor nation in the Games, China announced its withdrawal from participation. The Games scheduled for 1938 were cancelled and the organisation was discontinued thereafter.

Formation

After World War II, a number of Asian countries became independent. Many of the newly independent Asian countries wanted to see a new type of competition where Asian dominance would not be shown by violence but would be strengthened by mutual understanding. During the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, a conversation between sportsmen from China and the Philippines raised the idea of restoring the Far Eastern Games. However, the Indian International Olympic Committee representative Guru Dutt Sondhi thought that the restoration of the Games would not be sufficient to show the spirit of unity and level of achievement in Asian sports, so proposed to sports leaders the idea of having discussions about holding a wholly new competition — the Asian Games. This gave rise to the agreement to form the Asian Athletic Federation. A preparatory committee was set up to draft the charter for this new body. On 13 February 1949, the Asian Athletic Federation was formally inaugurated in New Delhi, alongside the name Asian Games Federation, with New Delhi announced as the first host city of the Asian Games which were scheduled to be held in 1950.

Participation

2006 Asian Games

All 45 members affiliated to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) are eligible to take part in the Games. In history, 46 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have sent competitors to the Games. Israel has been excluded from the Games since 1976, the reason cited as being due to security reasons. Israel requested to participate in the 1982 Games, but the request was rejected by the organisers due to incident in 1972 Summer Olympics. Israel is now a member of the European Olympic Committees (EOC).

Due to its continuing ambiguous political status, Taiwan has participated in the Games under the flag of Chinese Taipei since 1990. Macau is allowed to compete as one of the NOCs in Asian Games, despite not being recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for participation in the Olympic Games.

In 2007, the President of OCA, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, rejected the proposal to allow Australia to participate in the Games. He stated that while Australia would add good value to the Asian Games, it would be unfair to the other NOCs in Oceania.

Only seven countries, namely India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Thailand have competed in all editions of the games.

Sports

44 sports were presented in Asian Games history, including 2010 Games in Guangzhou.

Sport Years Aquatics since 1951 Archery since 1978 Athletics since 1951 Badminton since 1962 Baseball since 1994 Basketball since 1951 Board games since 2006 Bodybuilding 2002–2006 Bowling 1978, 1986, since 1994 Boxing since 1954 Canoeing since 1986 Cricket 2010 Cue sports since 1998 Cycling 1951, since 1958 Dancesport 2010 Dragon boat 2010 Equestrian 1982–1986, since 1994 Fencing 1974–1978, since 1986 Football since 1951 Golf since 1982 Gymnastics since 1974 Handball since 1982

Sport Years Hockey since 1958 Judo since 1986 Kabaddi since 1990 Karate since 1994 Modern pentathlon 1994, 2002, 2010 Roller sports 2010 Rowing since 1982 Rugby union since 1998 Sailing 1970, since 1978 Sepaktakraw since 1990 Shooting since 1954 Softball since 1990 Soft tennis since 1990 Squash since 1998 Table tennis 1958–1966, since 1974 Taekwondo 1986, since 1994 Tennis 1958–1966, since 1974 Triathlon since 2006 Volleyball since 1958 Weightlifting 1951–1958, since 1966 Wrestling since 1954 Wushu since 1990

Medal count

Of the 46 National Olympic Committees participating throughout the history of the Games, 43 nations have won at least a single medal in the competition, leaving three nations: Bhutan, Maldives and Timor-Leste yet to win a single medal. 34 nations have won at least a single gold medal, while Japan and China became the only two nations in history to emerge as overall champions.