Held every 4 years, the Asian Games is the world’s largest multi-sport event outside of the Olympics. 46 nations have historically competed in the production, whose next edition is to be held by Jakarta, Indonesia in 2018. Hoping to join the party one Games later is Australia, who is pursuing bringing a full delegation of athletes to the 2022 version set for Hangzhou, China.
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President John Coates is spearheading the quest for the nation’s inclusion, with the decision reportedly set to be discussed at the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) meeting in September.
Of Australia’s pursuit of being included in the Asian Games, Coates says,”Discussions are underway and I believe there would be great interest in the Asian Games amongst our member sports.
“Particularly in sports where the Asian countries are strong (such as) gymnastics, badminton and table tennis.
“I believe participating in the Asian Games would be very good for us.” (The Strait Times)
However, not all parties involved in the decision agree with Coates. Olympic Council of Malaysia Secretary-General Low Beng Choo says, for example, “[Australia] that the Asian Games was started by Asia and the Asian people have worked very hard to build it.”
As a counter-suggestion, Low asks suggested that Australia initiate the creation of a multi-sport Games specifically for Oceania. She says, “The Europeans started their own Games, and there’s also the Pan-American Games. Isn’t it about time they have their own continental Games? The ‘bigger boys’ also have a responsibility to help build and help their region grow.” (The Strait Times)
Australia does compete in the quadrennial competition of the Commonwealth Games, whose next edition is set to be hosted on the Gold Coast in 2018. The nation also competes in the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, held every 4 years, with the nations of Japan, China, South Korea, among others, included.
Australia has previously sent 30 athletes to the Asian Winter Games as a ‘guest’ delegation after having received an OCA invitation. Additionally, in FIVB competition, Australia’s volleyball squad competes as part of the Asian Confederation.
As above quote from Low states The ‘bigger boys’ also have a responsibility to help build and help their region grow. We need to relook at Pacific Games and how Aus/NZ can realistically participate without overwhelming the region, we cannot help our geographic location. But equally we cannot see any sport stifled by the actions of smaller states. The classic in swimming of course is that in the world representation we see Fiji at helm rather than Aus or NZ. About time to rectify the imbalance but the responsibility then comes back to ensure participation grows.
In honesty, the likes of AUS & NZL only use the Pacific Games (which is only a very low level event run on a shoestring) to give juniors “an intl hitout” in various sports ….. if they even choose to enter the events in certain sports.
In all honesty; probably the most senisible option is to “stick a fork” in Oceania as a confederation for the various sports and re-name as Asia-Pacific and re-jig “quotas” accordingly. As it is, this is already happening with Olympic qualification in various sports. For those who may cry gigantism, you would only be adding the remainder of AUS sports that aren’t already “in Asia”, NZL (who tends to concentrate its resources into specific sports)… Read more »
First the Eurovision Song Contest… now this.
They almost won it ! Imo it was close between the Russian & Aust entries – both very pop , uplifting & with excellent presentaion . The dirge that won was just politics & nothing to compare with the fabulous previous Uke winner .
25% of our people are born overseas & thus we can use ancestry to join in anywhere we find a blood line. Nobody can keep us out if we want in .?
Just my opinion, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for them to join.
Like the article said, it was started by Asian countries and should be for Asian countries. I’m all for inclusion, but this is a bit of a head scratcher. Australia already competes at the Commonwealth Games, again like the article said.
What’s the problem? More paying viewers to the Asian Games, more competition, quality in various sport.
In the last Asian Games China & Japan won 70% of the medals and 86% of the gold. In the swimming competition they won 34/38 gold (Balandin won three gold in breast and Schooling won the 100 fly), 33/38 silver and 26/38 bronze and remember the two athletes rule.
Ops, I misread the total medal table – they won 44% of the gold and 36% of the medal – but the swimming medal table is right (to be fair Park won a silver and two bronze medal but he was stripped for doping violation).
Australia moved to the Asia region for World Cup Soccer/Football – they regularly won the Oceania region with little competition, but having been unchallenged weren’t ready for the “playoff” to get into the World Cup. I imagine they want to compete in the Asian Games for the same reason – as well as part of a general desire in Australia to balance their focuses on US & the Commonwealth with their geographic neighbors.
Australia has been part of the Asian Football Confederation since 2006 and for a number of other Olympic sports; the route to Olympic qualification is via Asian quotas.
As for CommGames; the sooner the entire entity is euthenased the better as the competition standards in most sports is tragi-comedic. I’m a frequent critic of the AOC & its actions but cudos to Mr Coates for at least being a realist.