Nagoya, September 19 (Daily Kiran) : The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry, believes the Asian Games should enhance their relationship with the Olympic Movement. Speaking at the opening of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Coventry emphasized the importance of allowing the continent and host nation to make decisions regarding their sports programs.
Coventry highlighted that continental games could play a significant role in the Olympic qualification process. The upcoming Asian Games will feature 43 sports, in contrast to the 32 sports at the Paris Olympics. More than 17,000 athletes and officials are registered for this event, sparking discussions about whether the Asian Games should align more closely with the Olympics.
In a special interview with Xinhua, Coventry stated, “I think continental games need to make this decision themselves. The federations have their autonomy, and the real question for the future is how to better connect continental games with the Olympic Games.”
Coventry also mentioned that the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is advocating for the Asian Games to take place a year before the Olympics, allowing them to serve as qualifiers. “I know the federations are pushing for their games to be held a year before the Olympic Games so they can be used for qualification. This is a great way to strengthen our movement. I look forward to the OCA and the Asian Games taking this step,” she said.
However, Coventry stressed that the final decisions regarding sports programs rest with the continental organization and the host country. “When it comes to program decisions, it entirely depends on them. Each continent has different sports, and when you consider the host countries, they have specific sports that are of interest to them. Therefore, I believe there should be a mix of various factors,” she concluded.
Leave a Comment