ASIAN GAMES

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 1982 Games. Since the 1982 they have been organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after
the break up of the Asian Games Federation.[1] 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, only 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.

HISTORY

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

Crisis, reorganisation, expansion

Starting in 1962, the Games were hit by several crises. First, the host country Indonesia, refused to permit the
participation of Israel and the Republic of China due to political and religious issues. As a result, the IOC removed its
sponsorship of the Games and terminated Indonesia as one of the IOC members. [6] The Asian Football Confederation
(AFC),[7] International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and International Weightlifting Federation (IWF),
also removed their recognition of the Games.[8][9]

In 1970, South Korea dropped its plan to host the Games declined due to national security crisis, however the main
reason was due to financial crisis, forcing the previous host Thailand to administer the Games again in Bangkok using
funds transferred from South Korea.[10] Prior to the Games, Japan was asked to host the Games, but declined due to
Expo '70 in Osaka.[11] This edition also marked the first time the Games have a television broadcasting throughout the
world.[12]

Future changes

The number of competition events is scheduled to shrink down to just 35 sports at the 2014 Games to be held in
Incheon, South Korea. 2014 will also see the last Games hosted in even-numbered year, as the Olympic Council of
Asia pushed the subsequent Games to just one year ahead of the Olympic Games. This means the 18th Asian Games
which were originally planned for 2018 will be pushed to 2019.

PARTICIPATION

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.[23] Israel requested to participate in the 1982 Games, but
the request was rejected by the organisers due to incident in 1972 Summer Olympics.[24] 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.[25]

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

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.