Guwahati: The Asian Games 2022 in China have been postponed until 2023 because of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, according to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
The Asian Games’ governing body, the Olympic Council of Asia, has announced new dates for the 19th edition of the Games. The Asian Games 2022 were supposed to take place from September 10 to September 25.
“The Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee has been very well prepared to deliver the Games on time despite global obstacles,” the OCA stated in a statement. All parties, however, reached the aforesaid choice after carefully evaluating the pandemic scenario and the scale of the Games.”
Hangzhou, the host city, is less than 200 kilometres from Shanghai, which is battling another big COVID-19 epidemic and has imposed stringent restrictions, including a weeks-long lockdown.
It should be noted that the organisers stated in April that the building of all venues and facilities for the Games was completed.
In February, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics were staged in a bio-bubble to keep COVID at bay.
On Friday, the OCA also stated that the Asian Youth Games, which were set to take place in Shantou in December, would be cancelled.
The World University Games 2021, which were scheduled to take place in Chengdu from June 26 to July 27 this year, have been postponed until 2023.