Asian Games: Olympic chief predicts ‘greatest ever’ event in Hangzhou despite IOC review of election
- Acting president of Olympic Council of Asian Randhir Singh says internal strife will have no impact of organisation of Games
- IOC has banned Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah for three years for his ‘undeniable impact’ in the elections
China will stage the “greatest ever” Asian Games next month, acting Olympic Council of Asia head Randhir Singh said on Friday, insisting his organisation’s troubles would not impact the continental event.
The International Olympic Committee has refused to recognise last month’s OCA presidential elections, instead asking Singh to carry on in acting capacity.
The IOC has banned Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah for three years for his “undeniable impact” in the elections at the regional body, in which his brother, Sheikh Talal Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, was appointed president.
Singh, who represented India in skeet shooting in the Olympics, was first appointed acting president of the OCA in 2021, when Sheikh Ahmad stepped down as president having being convicted by a Swiss criminal court of forgery. Sheikh Ahmad has denied any wrongdoing.
“The OCA election has nothing to do with the organisation of the Games,” Singh said in a telephone interview. “Hangzhou was all ready to host it last year itself. Venues are ready, everything is in place, and I’m sure we are going to see the greatest ever Asian Games.”
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Tokyo Olympics champion Quan Hongchan wins diving gold at China's National Games
The IOC is reviewing the OCA election process in which Sheikh Talal edged out Husain Al-Musallam 24-20 to head the Asian body, which had his father, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as its first president.
In an August 9 letter, the IOC asked both candidates not to engage with OCA’s voting members until the completion of the review process.
Singh, who has been chairman of the coordination committee for the Hangzhou Games, said it was too early to talk about the next OCA elections.
“Right now, we have to go by what the IOC instructs us,” he said. “We have to go by the Olympic Charter and ethics is the most important aspect of it.
“After the IOC completes its review and submits report, we’ll get an idea when to hold the next OCA election.”
The Games take place in Hangzhou, a tech hub about 170km southwest of Shanghai, with the opening ceremony on September 23.
