Hangzhou Asian Games postponed

Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, the main site of the 2022 Asian Games, features a stunning butterfly-shaped venue which incorporates a natatorium and a gymnasium to host swimming, diving and basketball. Pictured behind the giant silver-white structure is the center's main stadium - aka the 'Big Lotus' - which will host the opening and closing ceremonies, and track and field events. [Photo/IC]

The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, slated to be held in Hangzhou in September this year, has been postponed to "an unspecific date". The decision was announced in a statement made by the Olympic Council of Asia, which held its executive board meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Friday.

Following detailed discussions with the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee, the OCA Executive Board decided to postpone the 19th Asian Games, which were originally scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, from Sept 10 to 25, 2022. The new dates of the 19th Asian Games will be decided by the OCA, the COC and the HAGOC and announced in the near future, the OCA said in the statement, adding HAGOC was well prepared to deliver the Games on time despite global challenges.

"However, the above decision was taken by all the stakeholders after carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the Games," the OCA statement said.

The name and the emblem of the 19th Asian Games will remain unchanged, and the OCA said it believes that the Games will achieve a complete success through the joint efforts of all parties.

Additionally, the OCA also studied the situation of the 3rd Asian Youth Games, which was set to be held on Dec 20-28 this year in Shantou, China. After discussion with the COC and the Organising Committee, the OCA decided that as the Asian Youth Games had already been postponed once, the Asian Youth Games Shantou 2021 will be cancelled. The next Asian Youth Games will therefore be held in 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The HAGOC said in an statement Friday afternoon that under the support and guidance of the OCA and the COC, it will continue to carry on with all preparatory works of the Hangzhou Asian Games, adding the Games will eventually achieve a complete success in the future.