Editor's note: Decision Makers is a global platform for decision makers to share their insights on the events shaping the world today. Vinod Kumar Tiwari is the Acting Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and OCA's Director of International and National Olympic Committee Relations.
On September 23, the 19th Asian Games broke out in Hangzhou, China.
After a one-year postponement caused by the global pandemic, the 19th edition of the most important event of the Olympic Council of Asia will be held in Hangzhou and five co-host cities in Zhejiang Province (Zhejiang) from 23 September to 8 October 2023.
The Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and our 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have been waiting eight years for this moment, and as the OCA's Director of International and National Olympic Committee Relations, I can't express how excited we all are to finally arrive in Hangzhou and celebrate the Asian Games for the first time in five years - since the 18th Asian Games. Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia in 2018.
The enthusiasm of the NOCs uniting in Hangzhou can be seen in the record number of athletes - over 12,000 in 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 481 gold medals. The previous record was 11,300 in Indonesia in 2018, so the Asian Games adds another 1,000 athletes to the programme for Hangzhou.
I have been to Hangzhou several times before and after the pandemic that prevented personal visits between 2020 and 2022, and I was very impressed by all aspects of the planning and preparations for the Asian Games.
The venues for the competitions undoubtedly meet and even exceed the standards of the Olympic Games. The associated infrastructure, such as the Asian Games 'village', the main media centre and the official hotels, are all first class.
But there is much more to admire in Hangzhou than Asian Games-related projects. As I traveled around the city, the urban planning was a real joy to observe, with the abundance of parks, trees and colorful flower beds interspersed with the glitzy office towers of a new, modern and dynamic China. This is a credit to the responsible approach of the municipal and provincial governments, providing a clean and green lifestyle for the people to thrive in.
The 19th Asian Games will provide Hangzhou with a window on the world. We all recognise Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou as iconic cities in China, but in this respect Hangzhou is not as well known. The Asian Games will change that.
Photo: Children sing the official song of the 19th Asian Games "The Love We Share" during the opening ceremony for the Asian Games "village" in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Sept 16, 2023. /Xinhua
This has happened in the past with the Asian Games, which contributed to globalisation and provided a springboard for Asian cities to advance on the world stage. Here are two recent examples.
Our 1986 Asian Games were held in Seoul, South Korea, and provided a platform for the organisers, the capital and the country to host the 1988 Olympic Games. Seoul in particular and South Korea in general have never looked back and is now an economic and industrial titan around the world.
In 2006, the Asian Games moved to Doha, the capital of Qatar, giving the Gulf state the spark to become a major player in international sport. With the exposure and experience of the Asian Games, Qatar can now organise any international sporting event alongside the best in the world, as seen at the FIFA World Cup last year.
From what I've seen over the years, the Asian Games play a big role in the development of the host city - and the same will happen with Hangzhou.
We are very proud of our OCA Asian Games, and especially the fact that they have been held continuously every four years since the first edition in New Delhi, India in 1951.
Regardless of the wars, conflicts and natural disasters affecting many Asian countries over the years, the Asian Games have always provided a haven for athletes and officials. Here, the "village" of the Asian Games ensures that everyone is welcome and everyone is equal, providing the youth of Asia with the opportunity to understand more about the world and its people.
In this way, we feel that the Asian Games can contribute to peace and harmony in the future by preaching respect and tolerance.
All these factors have led to a very bright future for the Asian Games and the OCA.
After Hangzhou, we have already registered host cities for the next three Asian Games. Aichi-Nagoya in Japan is already busy preparing for the 20th. Asian Games in 2026 and will be followed by Doha, Qatar in 2030 and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2034.
This shows the diversity and capability of the Asian continent, from East to West, and OCA will continue to promote and assist our NOCs - large and small - in their development at all levels.
Other continental associations within the International Olympic Committee must envy our status and our confirmed calendar of events until the next decade.
It shows the trust, faith and confidence of our sports leaders in the Asian Games concept and the benefits of hosting such a huge multi-sport event; it also means that the next available Asian Games for any potential host city will not be until 2038, 15 years from now.
But that's all in the future.
Now it is time to focus on Hangzhou and on all parties - HAGOC, OCA, NOC and the Chinese Olympic Committee - to work together to provide the best conditions for our 12,000 athletes and the best working environment for everyone related to the Asian Games.
CMG
The OCA is confident that Hangzhou 2022 will provide another rich chapter in the success story of the Asian Games.
(Sve)
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