Tianjin event to be last East Asian Games amid youth tournament plans
Tianjin event likely to be last in current format amid plans to introduce event for teenagers
The East Asian Games will be scaled back after the completion of the sixth edition of the extravanganza in Tianjin in October.
Organisers are likely to replace the event, which began in Shanghai in 1993, with a competition for athletes aged 14 to 18.
"The new format hasn't been finalised, as the topic will be discussed in Tianjin, but it is very likely that this will be the last time the Games will be open to athletes," Hong Kong Olympic Committee honorary secretary general Pang Chung said yesterday.
"Starting from the next Games in 2017, we'll probably see a new youth competition."
The East Asian Games, last hosted by Hong Kong in 2009, involves competitors from nine countries and regions. "The general perception is that there are already similar Games in the region, like the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the Asian Beach Games, the Asian Youth Games and, of course, the Asian Games," said Pang.
From 2017, the East Asian Games would also see fewer events and competitors, Pang said. There would likely be only 1,200 competitors compared to the 2,400 who took part in Hong Kong four years ago and the 2,800 who were in Japan for the Osaka Games in 2001, he said.
