The influential head of the Olympic Council of Asia has dashed hopes that athletes from Oceania nations, including Australia and New Zealand, might be able to compete in the Asian Games from 2022.
Athletes from the two countries took part in the Asian Winter Games as "guests" in Sapporo earlier this year and the Australian Olympic Committee said talks were being held about extending the invitation to the summer versions.
19 Oceania nations are represented for the first time at the ongoing Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan but OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said the Asian Games was already too big.
"I hope at the next Indoor Games we will have the same experience and Oceania will continue with us in the Indoor Games," he said. ”With the Asian Games we are already at 15,000 athletes and officials and we cannot add to that number."
They had the backing of China, who want tougher competition especially for their swimmers, but not Sheikh Ahmad, who is also the president of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) representing more than 200 countries worldwide.
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Athletes from the two countries took part in the Asian Winter Games as "guests" in Sapporo earlier this year and the Australian Olympic Committee said talks were being held about extending the invitation to the summer versions.
19 Oceania nations are represented for the first time at the ongoing Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan but OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah said the Asian Games was already too big.
"I hope at the next Indoor Games we will have the same experience and Oceania will continue with us in the Indoor Games," he said. ”With the Asian Games we are already at 15,000 athletes and officials and we cannot add to that number."
They had the backing of China, who want tougher competition especially for their swimmers, but not Sheikh Ahmad, who is also the president of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) representing more than 200 countries worldwide.
Read more
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