OCA Press Release: OCA's beach games concept goes global |
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01-Jun-2016
Danang, Vietnam, June 1, 2016: The Olympic Council of Asia has called on its 45 National Olympic Committees to keep the spirit of the beach games burning brightly when the fifth edition of the Asian Beach Games takes place in Danang, Vietnam, this September.
Addressing delegates at the Chefs de Mission Seminar in the Royal Lotus Convention Centre in Danang on Wednesday, the OCA’s Honorary Life Vice President, Mr Wei Jizhong, said the OCA could take pride in establishing the beach and sea sports concept in 2008.
“The beach games started in Asia, initiated by the President of the OCA, Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah,” said Mr Wei.
“Now it is becoming universal. This year in Danang we will have approximately 3,000 athletes in 14 sports, 22 disciplines and 172 events.
“This gives all Asian athletes the possibility to take part in the beach games and enjoy the harmony and friendship of the OCA family.”
Mr Wei appealed to the NOCs to send their best athletes, and more athletes, to Danang “to take part in this sports festival in this beautiful city.”
The OCA first held the Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, in 2008, and the concept was deemed a great success due to the relatively low costs of staging the sports in the sea and on the beach and with temporary infrastructure.
In addition, the potential for tourism was high with thousands of participants attending from all over the continent.
The Asian Beach Games moved to Muscat, Oman, in 2010, to Haiyang, China, in 2012 and to Phuket, Thailand, in 2014, prompting the Association of National Olympic Committees, also headed by Sheikh Ahmad, to plan the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games in San Diego, California, in September/October 2017 with the participation of 205 NOCs.
The OCA’s fifth ABG will take place in Danang from September 24 to October 3, 2016, and delegates from 38 NOCs attended the Chefs de Mission Seminar on Wednesday.
One of the key dates for NOCs in the build-up to the 5th ABG is the Entry by Name deadline on June 30. The Delegation Registration Meetings will take place from September 17-21 and the Team Welcome Ceremonies on September 22-23.
There will be four venue clusters along the sweeping bay of Danang, a central coastal city, with only 7km separating the four clusters.
Beach bodybuilding, which has been affected by doping problems in the past, is among the 14 sports. To ensure a clean competition, all athletes must undergo a doping test at a WADA-registered lab one month before the ABG and send the result, endorsed by the NOC, to the organisers.
In addition, the athletes must arrive three or four days before the competition in Danang to take a second test, the result of which will be known before the competition starts. |
