The Asian Games in Hangzhou have been postponed due to increased COVID in China
May 6, Tashkent/Beijing (PTI) The Hangzhou Asian Games, which were set to take place from September 10 to 25. All were postpone indefinitely on Friday due to an increase in COVID-19 cases in China, a development that was expect and elicited by mixed reactions from Indian athletes.
The new dates will be announce soon, but because 2024 is an Olympic year. The Asian Games may be reschedule for 2023 once the pandemic is under control. Since a new wave of the pandemic forced a lockdown in Shanghai. There has been an air of uncertainty surrounding the 19th edition of the multi-sports Games.
On Friday, the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board met in Tashkent to be concerned. About the situation and determined that postponing the Games was the best option.
“Following detailed back-and-forths with the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) also the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC). The OCA Executive Board (EB) today decided to delay the 19th Asian Games. Which were timetable to take place in Hangzhou. China, from September 10 to September 25, 2022,” the OCA tell in a statement posted on its website.
The Games were to feature approximately 11,000 athletes competing in 61 sporting disciplines.
The first multi-sport major event to be postpone after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Tokyo Olympic Games organizers to push the quadrennial event back a year to 2021.
“The new updates of the 19th Asian Games will be agree upon and announced shortly by the OCA. The COC, and the HAGOC,” the OCA statement added. According to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the postponement of the Games is “certainly a sort of setback” for some athletes.
“Any major event or Games postponement is a disappointment for the athletes. When the Games are reschedule, they grow older by a few months or a year, depending on the case,” IOA Secretary-General.
