Asian Games 2018: speed climber questions ‘unfair’ Olympic format that has competitors playing catch-up
Au Chi-fung and Lam Hei-yeung aiming for medals at the upcoming Asian Games, but Lam wonders if combining disciplines is the right idea
Sport climbing is making its debut at the Asian Games in Jakarta on August 23, but climbers have questioned organisers’ use of the Olympic format which forces competitors to take part in all or none of the three main disciplines.
“Before sport climbing joined the Asian Games and Olympics, climbers have never practised all three disciplines,” said Hong Kong’s Lam Hei-yeung. “So now the top climbers need to change their training schedule.”
The inclusion of climbing at the Asian Games came on the back of the news it would be on the Olympic schedule for the first time at Tokyo 2020.
But while climbers usually specialise in bouldering, lead climbing or speed climbing, they will have to compete in all three in Japan – as well as Jakarta, which is mimicking the format.
Lam said climbing’s inclusion is still great promotion for the sport, even though he feels the organisers have got the format a bit wrong.
