Olympic Council confident Asian Games will go ahead in September, despite rising Covid-19 concerns in China
- Most international sporting events in China have been postponed or cancelled because of Covid-19, with the notable exception of the Winter Olympics
- The matter is expected to be taken up for discussion at the OCA executive board meeting in Tashkent on May 6
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has requested an update from Beijing on the Covid-19 situation in China but remains confident the Asian Games will go ahead in Hangzhou in September, a senior official at the body told Reuters on Monday.
The 19th edition of the multi-sports Games, second in size only to the Summer Olympics, is expected to take place from September 10-25 in the capital of Zhejiang province, some 175 kilometres southwest of Shanghai.
A media report last week quoted the OCA’s director general as saying that there was a possibility the Games would have to be postponed because of the month-long Covid-19 lockdown in China’s financial capital.
A senior official, speaking under condition of anonymity, said on Monday that the OCA had been in contact with Chinese officials but there was “as of now” no concern about cancellation or postponement.
“The OCA has written to Beijing to get more clarity on the situation and we are waiting for a report,” he said.