Other meanings of Asian Games
Multi-sport event
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it is the second largest multi-sport event in the world after the Olympic Games. The Games were first held in 1951 in New Delhi, India, and have grown to include over 40 sports and more than 10,000 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees. The event has been instrumental in promoting regional unity and sporting excellence across Asia.
The Asian Games trace their origins to the Far Eastern Championship Games, which were held from 1913 to 1934 among Japan, the Philippines, and China. After World War II, the idea of a broader Asian sporting event gained momentum, leading to the formation of the Asian Games Federation in 1949. The first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951 featured 489 athletes from 11 countries, with sports such as athletics, aquatics, and basketball. The Games were suspended in 1978 due to political tensions, but resumed in 1982 in New Delhi. In 1982, the Olympic Council of Asia replaced the Federation, and the Games have been held continuously since then, with the 2022 edition (postponed to 2023) hosted by Hangzhou, China.1
The Asian Games feature a wide range of Olympic and non-Olympic sports, reflecting the continent's diverse sporting culture. Traditional Asian sports such as kabaddi, sepak takraw, and wushu are included alongside global sports like athletics, swimming, and football. The number of sports has expanded over the years, with the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games featuring 40 sports and 465 events. Participation has grown from 11 NOCs in 1951 to all 45 OCA member nations, with over 10,000 athletes competing in recent editions. The Games also serve as a qualifying pathway for the Olympic Games, and many Asian athletes have used the event as a springboard to international stardom.
Since 1951, the Asian Games have been hosted by 12 cities across 9 countries, with China, Japan, and South Korea hosting multiple times. Notable editions include the 1964 Jakarta Games, which were the first to be held in Southeast Asia, and the 1986 Seoul Games, which saw the debut of South Korea as a major sporting power. The 2010 Guangzhou Games were the largest in history at the time, with 42 sports and 476 events. The 2022 Hangzhou Games, postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, introduced new sports such as esports and breakdancing, reflecting the evolving nature of the event. The Games have also been a platform for political statements, such as the 2018 joint Korean women's basketball team.
Beyond the headline sports, the Asian Games have several lesser-known dimensions. The Winter Asian Games, first held in 1986 in Sapporo, Japan, are a separate event for winter sports, with the most recent edition in 2017 in Sapporo. The Asian Para Games, for athletes with disabilities, were first held in 2010 in Guangzhou and are now held immediately after the Asian Games. The Games have also seen unique moments, such as the 1974 Tehran Games, where Iran hosted the first Asian Games in the Middle East, and the 1990 Beijing Games, which were the first to be held in China. The OCA also organizes the Asian Youth Games and the Asian Beach Games, expanding the reach of the movement. The 2018 Games in Jakarta-Palembang were the first to be co-hosted by two cities, and the 2022 Hangzhou Games featured the first-ever esports medals.
The Asian Games are a testament to Asia's sporting diversity and unity, evolving from a small regional event to a global-scale competition.
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