What are some interesting facts about the Asian Games?

The Asian Games, the full name of the Asian Games, is a regional large-scale comprehensive sports event recognized by the International Olympic Committee and hosted by the Asian Olympic Council (Olympic Council of Asia). It is not only the largest and highest-level comprehensive sports meeting in Asia, but also represents the level of sports in Asia as a whole. The predecessors of the Asian Games were the Far Eastern Games and the West Asian Games. It is held every four years, alternately with the Olympic Games, and lasts for 16 days. The 1st Asian Games was originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India, in February 1949. For some reasons, it was postponed to 1951 and was held for the 13th time in 2001.

Most of the Asian Games events are Olympic Games events, but they do not have strict regulations like the Olympic Games. In addition to some widely carried out sports, such as track and field, swimming, basketball, volleyball, football, etc., which must be included in each session, the host country can make appropriate selections based on its own conditions and sports skills.

In 1912, the "Far East Sports Association" was established through the initiative of American officers in the YMCAs of China, Japan, and the Philippines. In 1913, the first Far Eastern Games was held in Manila, Philippines. By 1934, the Far Eastern Games had been held for 10 times. Initially, it was held every 2 years. Later, it was held in conjunction with the Olympic Games, and was changed to one every four years from the 8th session in 1927. At the beginning, only China, Japan, and the Philippines participated. Since the ninth session, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam have also joined.

The Far Eastern Games consisted of seven events: track and field, swimming, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and volleyball. At that time, it represented the highest level of competitive sports in Asia and contributed to the development of early sports in Asia. made a positive contribution. China has won nine Far Eastern Games football championships. In 1934, because Japan invaded China and insisted on including its so-called "Manchukuo" in the Far Eastern Games, China announced its withdrawal from the Far Eastern Games. Later, the Far Eastern Sports Association declared its disintegration due to China's withdrawal, and the Far Eastern Games also disappeared.

In 1934, with the financing of Indian sports leader Dr. Guru Sandy, the first West Asian Games was held in New Delhi. The participating countries were India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are hockey, basketball, track and field and other projects. The Second West Asian Games, originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan four years later, was canceled due to the outbreak of World War II. After the end of the Second World War, the people of various Asian countries were eager to maintain a peaceful environment and promote unity, friendship and cultural exchanges among people of various countries and regions, and their desire to participate in international sports competitions was very urgent.

During the 14th Olympic Games in London in July 1948, sports people from China and the Philippines had frequent contacts, planning to resume the Far East Games, and invited Asian countries participating in the Olympics to discuss it. Guru Sandy, an Indian member of the International Olympic Committee and Indian sports leader, believes that simply reviving the Far Eastern Games is not enough to reflect the sports level and spirit of unity across Asia, and advocates the creation of an intercontinental games that includes the participation of all Asian countries - the Asian Games. To this end, he visited the sports delegations of Asian countries that came to London to participate in the Olympic Games, and invited representatives from 13 countries and regions including China, South Korea, and the Philippines to hold the first preparatory meeting for the establishment of the Asian Games Federation. The meeting discussed and approved India's proposal for the establishment of the Asian Games Federation, and recommended the four countries of China, South Korea, India and the Philippines to jointly draft relevant documents and charters for the Asian Games. It was also decided at the meeting that the first Asian Games would be held in New Delhi, India, in February 1949. Later, due to domestic reasons in India, the games could not be held as scheduled.

On February 12-13, 1949, India invited representatives of national sports organizations from the Philippines, Myanmar, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Thailand and other countries to meet in New Delhi, the capital of India. At the meeting, the establishment of the "Asian Games Federation" was announced. Council" (renamed "Asian Olympic Council" after 1982), and formally adopted a charter drafted by China, India, the Philippines and South Korea. Representatives from India, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan and the Philippines who attended the meeting immediately signed to join the meeting and became basic members of the Asian Games Confederation.

All delegates unanimously agreed to adopt "Ever onward" as the slogan of the Asian Games. The meeting elected Singh of India as chairman and Vergas of the Philippines as vice-chairman. The meeting decided that the Asian Games, which will be held every four years, will be held between the two Olympic Games, and stipulated that the competition time will be 12-16 days and there will be 20 events. The host country can increase or decrease the events as appropriate, but generally there will be no less than 11 events, track and field, swimming and art exhibitions are required items and content. The meeting also decided that the 1st Asian Games would be held in New Delhi, India in 1950. Dr. Sandy of India is known as the "Father of the Asian Games" as the main sponsor of the Asian Games.

The Asian Games Federation is basically modeled after the International Olympic Committee. The International Olympic Committee recognizes the Asian Games as an official sports event in Asia. The mission of the Asian Games Federation is to hold the Asian Games and Winter Asian Games as scheduled. The Asian Games Federation was reorganized into the Olympic Council of Asia (referred to as the Olympic Council of Asia) during the 9th Asian Games in 1982.