Official Newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia
ASIAN INSPIRATION SORN SEAVMEY PRIDE OF CAMBODIA Road to Rio OCA committees begin new cycle OCA Chefs de Mission Seminars
Edition 33 - June 2016
Contents
Inside your new-look 36-page Sporting Asia
3
12
President’s Message, ANOC Ex-Co
4–7
News in Pictures
8 – 11
Road to Rio Women's football Taekwondo Boxing Volleyball
14
12 – 13
OCA/OS Regional Forums in Bangkok and Doha
14 – 16
17
Inside the OCA Athletes' Committee Sports Committee Finance Committee Olympic Vision Centre for Asia in Korea New Vice President for Central Asia
Executive Editor / Director General Husain Al-Musallam husain@ocasia.org Art Director / IT Director Amer Elalami amer@ocasia.org Director, Int’l & NOC Relations Vinod Tiwari vinod@ocasia.org Director, Asian Games Department Haider A. Farman haider@ocasia.org Editor Jeremy Walker jeremy@ocasia.org Executive Secretary Nayaf Sraj nayaf@ocasia.org
17 – 20
Olympic Council of Asia PO Box 6706, Hawalli Zip Code 32042 Kuwait
21 – 24
Telephone: +965 22274277 - 88 Fax: +965 22274280 - 90 Email: info@ocasia.org Website: www.ocasia.org
Chefs de Mission Seminar for Sapporo 2017
21
Sporting Asia is the official newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia, published quarterly.
Games Update 18th Asian Games 2018 5th Asian Beach Games 2016 5th AIMAG 2017 6th Children of Asian Games 2016
25 – 34
10 Pages of NOC News and Sport
35
22 Page 02
36
Front cover: Obituary
OCA Sports Diary
Cambodia's Sorn Seavmey has fought her way to the top of taekwondo in Asia, making history along the way. Soon she will be heading for the Rio Olympics. See Page 9.
President’s Message
COMMUNICATION IS THE LEGACY OF REGIONAL FORUMS
T
he Regional Forums for the OCA’s National Olympic Committees held in Bangkok and Doha in May completed the 2013-2016 cycle with our partners from Olympic Solidarity. Not only did the forums give the NOCs the opportunity to conduct their Pre-Delegation Registration Meetings with Rio 2016 in a relaxed and comfortable environment, they also provided detailed progress reports on the Olympic Games as well as our OCA events up to 2018. With this four-year cycle with Olympic Solidarity coming to a close, I would like to thank our friends and colleagues in the IOC and in our NOCs for their support and enthusiasm for these joint projects. The legacy of these forums is all about cooperation and relationships, and I encourage everyone involved to make the most of the contacts they have made during the gatherings.
The organisers of the games have given you as much information as possible to ensure a smooth build-up and a successful event, and they are always available and willing to help you in the future if you have any doubts or queries. So keep the lines of communication open right up until the start of the various games, so that nothing is left to chance in your preparations. Finally, I would like to wish all our NOCs the very best of luck at Rio 2016, and especially the athletes who have benefited from the Olympic Solidarity scholarship programme. If medals are out of reach, then aim for personal bests and national records, and use this privileged training experience to produce your maximum performance on the biggest stage of all.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah President, Olympic Council of Asia President, Association of National Olympic Committees Chairman, IOC Olympic Solidarity Commission
SHEIKH AHMAD EXPECTS ‘CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE’ AT RIO
T
he Association of National Olympic Committees expressed its complete support of IOC President Thomas Bach and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee at the 69th ANOC Executive Council meeting in Lausanne on April 4. Speaking after the meeting, ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said: “With just four months to go until Rio 2016, our NOCs are working hard to prepare their athletes for the Games. “We fully support the IOC President and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee and have no doubt that they will deliver a fantastic event where NOCs, athletes and fans will enjoy world-class competitions and a carnival atmosphere."
The 69th ANOC Ex-Co meeting in Lausanne.
Page 03
News in Pictures
NEW ROLE FOR OLYMPIC CHAMPION: Korea’s double Olympic speed skating champion Lee Sang-hwa was appointed Honorary Ambassador for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in a ceremony held in Seoul on April 25. Lee won gold in the women’s 500 meters at both Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 and holds the world record at 36.36 seconds.
REFUGEES IN THE JUDO SPOTLIGHT: The International Judo Federation’s development programme in the Kilis refugee camps on the Syrian/Turkish border is the subject of the latest IJF Judo for the World video feature. More than 130,000 refugees have been rescued in the Kilis region.
PROUD MOMENT FOR SYRIAN ATHLETE: Syrian refugee Ibrahim Al-Hussein, 27, carried the Olympic flame through the Eleonas Open Reception Centre for refugees and migrants in Athens as part of the Rio 2016 torch relay. “It is an honour,” said Ibrahim, who arrived in Greece in 2014 having lost family members in war-torn Syria. Page 04
News in Pictures
CHINA JOINS IOC IN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: IOC President Thomas Bach met Chinese Supervisory Minister Huang Shuxian at the IOC HQ in Lausanne on May 18 and agreed a number of new steps in the fight against corruption. The Chinese Minister commented: “Together we will step up the fight against corruption in sport. We look forward to working together to help deliver great Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.”
HAVE AN ICE DAY: Sponsored by Kerry Properties, the 2016 Mega Ice Hockey Fives was held for the ninth time in Hong Kong from April 25 to May 7 and attracted 1,200 players and 80 teams from 13 countries and cities. Action here from the women’s game between WIHO Saints and WIHO Angels.
NEP-ALL TOGETHER: The International Table Tennis Federation celebrated World Table Tennis Day on April 6 at Kathmandu, Nepal, to coincide with the launch of the “Table Tennis for NepALL” – a project to spread the game among people with a disability. Athlete role model Melissa Tapper from Australia was among the guests. Page 05
News in Pictures
NEW POCOG PRESIDENT: The PyeongChang Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018 has a new President - former minister Lee Hee-beom, who succeeds Cho Yang-ho.
GAME, SET AND PEACE: To mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6, the “IndoPak Express” tennis doubles players Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi from Pakistan and Rohan Bopanna from India exemplified how sport can overcome political divides, promote tolerance and develop friendships with their movement Stop War Start Tennis.
WORLD ORIENTEERING DAY: More than 200,000 people celebrated the International Orienteering Federation’s World Orienteering Day on May 11 in 79 countries and territories around the world. One of the 2,642 activities took place at Hunan University in China, where around 2,500 students celebrated the event on the university campus. Page 06
News in Pictures
WRESTLING DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA: The President of United World Wrestling, Nenad Lalovic, accepted an invitation from the Chinese Wrestling Federation to witness the progress it has made in recent years. He attended a course in Xian that attracted more than 60 referees from 31 provinces of China.
CONGRATULATIONS! The first batch of students from around the world, including several Asian countries, graduated from the International Sports Relations (iSR) Foundation Academy at Songdo, Korea, on May 27. The one-year course is to assist elite athletes in career transition and is sponsored by ANOC.
TOKYO 2020 E M B L E M UNVEILED: The Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 unveiled its new emblem on April 25, selecting a design with links to Japanese tradition and the Olympic concept of unity in diversity. More than 40,000 people shared their views on the final four designs shortlisted by the Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee from among 14,599 emblem entries.
BOXING IN IRAN: AIBA President Dr Wu Ching-Kuo visited Iran as a guest of the Iranian Boxing Federation President, Ahmad Nategh Noori, to discuss the promotion of boxing and the possible hosting of international events. The boxing chief also met with the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mahmoud Goudarzi, and the NOC President, Kioumars Hashemi. Page 07
Road to Rio
CHINA’S ‘STEEL ROSES’ ARE BLOOMING AGAIN
A
fter missing out on London 2012, China’s resurgent women’s football team, nicknamed the Steel Roses, are heading for the Olympic Games once again. In the Asian Football Confederation’s six-team Olympic Qualification Tournament played in Japan, China finished second behind Australia, an Oceania NOC but a member of the AFC, as only two teams qualified from the round-robin competition. This will be China’s fifth appearance in the Olympic Games, having won the silver medal in 1996, and they will jump straight into the lions’ den when they take on Brazil in their opening match at the Olympic Stadium in Rio on Wednesday, August 3. China’s next two group games are against South Africa on August 6, again at the Olympic Stadium, and against Sweden in
Brasilia on August 9. China’s head coach, Bruno Bini, said: “The main reason we have qualified is that we have good players of high quality and because the Football Association gave us good support. “In a qualifying tournament like this, we needed some little things which are important and we had those.” While China qualified comfortably, hosts Japan reached the end of a golden era and will now rebuild their team for future FIFA Women’s World Cups and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Australia came out on top with 13 points, followed by China (11), Japan (7), Korea Republic (5), DPR Korea (5) and Vietnam (0).
AFC OQT RESULTS: Round 1 China 2 Vietnam 0 DPR Korea 1 Korea Republic 1 Australia 3 Japan 1 Round 2 Australia 9 Vietnam 0 DPR Korea 1 China 1 Japan 1 Korea Republic 1 Round 3 Vietnam 0 DPR Korea 1 Korea Republic 0 Australia 2 Japan 1 China 2 Round 4 China 1 Korea Republic 0 DPR Korea 1 Australia 2 Vietnam 1 Japan 6
China’s Zhao Rong (14) in action against Australia. Photo: Lagardère Sports.
Round 5 Korea Republic 4 Vietnam 0 Australia 1 China 1 Japan 1 DPR Korea 0
WOMEN’S DRAW FOR RIO
MEN’S DRAW FOR RIO
Group E: Brazil, China, Sweden, South Africa Group F: Canada, Australia, Zimbabwe, Germany Group G: USA, New Zealand, France, Colombia
Group A: Brazil, South Africa, Iraq, Denmark Group B: Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria, Japan Group C: Fiji, Korea Republic, Mexico, Germany Group D: Honduras, Algeria, Portugal, Argentina
Note: Top two in each group, plus the two best third-place finishers, advance to the quarter-finals. Page 08
Note: Top two in each group advance to quarter-finals
Road to Rio
SORN SEAVMEY – CAMBODIA’S TAEKWONDO WONDER
T
he rise and rise of Sorn Seavmey is not only a success story for Cambodia, but also for the Olympic Council of Asia and the global Olympic movement.
PROFILE Name: Sorn Seavmey NOC: Cambodia Place of Birth: Phnom Penh Date of Birth: September 14, 1995 Age: 20 Sport: Taekwondo Height: 1.83 metres Weight: 69kg
The 20-year-old taekwondo pin-up has become a national hero in the Kingdom of Wonder, thanks to her achievements in the South East Asian Games, Asian Games and now in the qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics.
DID YOU KNOW? Seavmey has five siblings, including two fellow members of the national taekwondo team - brother Elit and sister Davin. competes at the Rio Olympics, the whole country will be watching her and cheering for her.”
By winning the Asian qualifier in Manila in the over 67kg category, Seavmey became the first Cambodian athlete in history to qualify directly for the Olympics. This followed her triumphant campaign at the Incheon Asian Games in 2014, when she won her country’s first ever gold medal at this level.
Seavmey has worked hard to reach this level, making the most of her athlete scholarship from Olympic Solidarity and also from the Vision 2014 Programme run by the OCA and Incheon City.
“She has made the whole country proud,” says Vath Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambdoia.
“It is impossible for her to train in Cambodia at the moment,” adds Vath. “This is why she has gone to Korea for two months, away from all the attention and the media and the people back home.
“So many kids are now playing taekwondo because of Seavmey’s success. She is an inspiration to all Cambodians, not only in sport but in all walks of life. When she
“She wants to focus 100 per cent on her training and to give her best performance in Rio, without any distractions.”
Flying the flag after victory in Incheon. (Photo: AFP)
Her victory in Incheon turned her into an overnight sensation, and her Facebook account, depicting meetings with the Queen Mother, Prime Minister, sponsors, media and fans, has almost 1 million followers. She is even the subject of an in-depth profile by the IOC’s new Olympic Channel.
The Kingdom of Wonder holds its breath for Sorn Seavmey – Cambodia’s taekwondo wonder.
V for Victory. Page 09
Road to Rio
UZBEK BOXERS DOMINATE ASIAN QUALIFIER
A
total of 36 places in the Rio Olympics boxing tournament were up for grabs in the AIBA Asia/Oceania qualifier at Qian’an, China, from March 25 to April 2. The women were competing for a total of six spots in three weight categories, while the men were chasing 30 places in 10 categories. For the women the task was clear – reach the final and win a ticket to Rio. The men, however, had a second chance if they lost in the semi-finals, as a box-off determined the crucial third place and the last spot available in each division, behind the two finalists. This series of winner-takes-all box-offs brought joy to the likes of Jordan and Kyrgyzstan, whereas the box-off vanquished suffered double disappointment with Rio so close.
Action from the Asia/Oceania boxing qualifer in China.
Uzbekistan dominated the men’s weight categories, winning five of the 10 titles on offer. Their five champions were: Hasanboy Dusmatov (49kg), Shakhobiddin Zoirov (52kg), Shakhram Giyasov (69kg), Elshod Rasulov (81kg) and Rustam Tulaganov (91kg). The might of Central Asia was further displayed by Kazakhstan, who won three titles through Ablaikhan Zhussupov (64kg), Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (75kg) and Ivan Dychko (+91kg).
The two other titles in the men’s events were won by Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee (56kg) and Mongolia’s Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu (60kg). China swept all three gold in the women’s events, through London 2012 silver medallist Ren Cancan (51kg), Yin Junhua (60kg) and Li Qian (75kg). The four AIBA continental qualifying competitions for Rio 2016 offered a total of 135 quota places to 51 countries.
LIST OF ALL QUOTA PLACES IN THE AIBA ASIA/OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION EVENT: Women's 51 kg: Women's 60 kg: Women's 75 kg: Men's 49 Men's 52 Men's 56 Men's 60 Men's 64 Men's 69 Men's 75 Men's 81 Men's 91 Men's +91 Page 10
kg: kg: kg: kg: kg: kg: kg: kg: kg: kg:
Ren Cancan, China; Yodgoroy Mirzaeva, Uzbekistan Yin Junhua, China; Shelley Watts, Australia Li Qian, China; Dariga Shakimova, Kazakhstan Hasanboy Dusmatov, Uzbekistan; Rogen Ladon, Philippines; Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag, Mongolia Shakhobiddin Zoirov, Uzbekistan; Hu Jianguan, China; Olzhas Sattibayev, Kazakhstan Chatchai Butdee, Thailand; Shiva Thapa, India; Kairat Yeraliyev, Kazakhstan Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu, Mongolia; Charly Suarez, Philippines; Daisuke Narimatsu, Japan Ablaikhan Zhussupov, Kazakhstan; Chinzorig Baatarsukh, Mongolia; Hu Qianxun, China Shakhram Giyasov, Uzbekistan; Saylom Ardee, Thailand; Tuvshinbat Byamba, Mongolia Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, Kazakhstan; Zhao Minggang, China; Jason Daniel Lewis, Australia Elshod Rasulov, Uzbekistan; Adilbek Niyazymbetov, Kazakhstan; Erkin Adylbek Uulu, Kyrgyzstan Rustam Tulaganov, Uzbekistan; Yu Fengkai, China; Jason Whateley, Australia Ivan Dychko, Kazakhstan; Bakhodir Jalolov, Uzbekistan; Hussein Iashaish, Jordan
Road to Rio
JAPAN, KOREA, JOIN CHINA IN RIO
T
Japan and Korea joined China in the 12-team women’s volleyball competition at Rio de Janeiro following a pulsating qualifying tournament in Tokyo from May 14-22. China had already booked their place in the 2016 Olympic Games by winning the FIVB World Cup in 2015, and the eight-team event in Tokyo doubled up as a World and Asian qualifier. After a round-robin competition, the top three teams would advance to Rio, along with the best-placed Asian team. Italy, Netherlands and host Japan filled the top three places to gain automatic qualification, while Korea finished in fourth place as the next best Asian team. Thailand just missed out, finishing fifth, and they were followed by the Dominican Republic, Peru and Kazakhstan.
Japan’s women’s team celebrates in Tokyo.
Asia also provided three players in the All-Star team from the Tokyo qualifier: Best Setter, Haruka Miyashita (JPN); Best Outside Spiker, Kim Yeon-Koung (KOR) and Best Middle Blocker, Yang Hyo-Jin (KOR). The Tokyo event was held at a raucous Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and the Rio draw for the 12 teams was conducted on May 23. The teams were drawn into two groups of six. The top four teams in each group, after a round-robin format, will advance to the quarter-finals in what is sure to be an electric atmosphere with volleyball so popular in Brazil. Japan and Korea were drawn into the same group, four years after Japan beat their fierce regional rivals in the bronze medal match at London 2012.
IRAN MAKES HISTORY Iran made history by qualifying for the Olympics for the first time through the men’s World/Asia OQT in Tokyo from May 28 to June 5.
Iran finished second in the eight-team round-robin with a 6-1 win-loss record, behind Poland. France finished third and Canada fourth to also qualify for Rio, while Australia, China, Japan and Venezuela missed out.
WOMEN’S DRAW FOR RIO Pool A:
Brazil (3*), Russia (4), Japan (5), Korea (8), Argentina (9), Cameroon (21).
Pool B:
USA (1), China (2), Serbia (6), Italy (7), Netherlands (14), Puerto Rico (16) * World Ranking as of January 1, 2016
Page 11
OCA/OS Regional Forums
BANGKOK, DOHA OF 2013-2016
T he host cities were Bangkok and Doha – but Rio
de Janeiro was on the minds of NOC delegates at the two OCA/Olympic Solidarity Regional Forums in May….not to mention Danang, Sapporo, Ashgabat, Jakarta and Palembang.
Singapore NOC in their Pre-DRM.
These were the final regional forums of the 20132016 Olympic cycle, with NOCs from South Asia, South East Asia and East Asia attending the Bangkok summit, while Doha hosted the NOCs from West Asia and Central Asia. To highlight how important the forums have become for NOCs, organising committees, the OCA and co-host Olympic Solidarity, more than 100 delegates gathered in Bangkok and 76 in Doha.
Good morning from Brunei Darussalam.
There were two main functions of this year’s forums: for NOCs to conduct the Pre-Delegation Registration Meetings with Rio 2016 organisers, smoothing the way for their official DRMs on arrival in Rio, and to receive the latest information and progress reports of upcoming multi-sport games in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Bangkok forum was opened on Monday, May 16 by Mr Pongpanu Svetarundra, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Sport. “We are really proud and honoured to be hosting this gathering in Thailand for the first time,” he said in his welcome address at the Centara Grand Convention Centre. “We are sure it will contribute to the development of sport in Asia and also promote Thailand as a sports and tourist hub around the world.” In Doha, the Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary
Souvenir photo at the official dinner in Bangkok. Page 12
OCA/OS Regional Forums
HOST FINAL FORUMS OLYMPIC CYCLE General, Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari, opened the second leg of the forum at the Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel on Friday, May 20. Dr Thani urged all participants to gain the maximum benefits from the forum through experience and knowledge. He also reviewed the objectives of the forum.
QOC Secretary General Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari.
In between three days of Pre-DRMs for the NOCs, the delegates received reports from the following organising committees: *Rio 2016 Olympic Games *5th Asian Beach Games Danang 2016 *8th Asian Winter Games Sapporo 2017 *5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Ashgabat 2017 (in Doha only) *3rd Asian Youth Games Jakarta 2017 *18th Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang 2018
Photo call in Doha.
*6th Children of Asia International Sport Games Yakutsk 2016 On behalf of Olympic Solidarity, Mr Edward Kensington thanked all the NOCs for their cooperation and collaboration regarding the athlete scholarship programme and wished them all success in their final preparations for Rio this August. The new Olympic cycle for 2017-2020 will begin at next year’s regional forums with details on the World Programme run directly by the IOC through Olympic Solidarity, and also on the Continental Programme conducted by the OCA. Olympic Solidarity's Edward Kensington at the Doha forum. Page 13
Inside the OCA
OCA ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE BEGINS NEW CYCLE
T
he OCA Athletes’ Committee began a fresh cycle of meetings under a new Chairman, Japan’s Koji Murofushi, in the 2018 Asian Games host city of Jakarta on Tuesday, May 10. The 2004 Olympic champion and 2011 World champion in the men’s hammer said he was very honoured to be working on behalf of the Asian athletes. “My goal is to expose Asia to the world, so this is a very good chance we have right now,” he said in his introductory address at the Indonesia NOC HQ in Senayan. “Of course we have many challenges and obstacles because our continent is so big that it is not easy to control, but that is our mission. We should think about the future Asian athletes.” Murofushi said it was an exciting time for Asia with the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea, in
Athletes’ Committee members visit the velodrome site.
2018, followed by the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “The world is watching us, and it is time to move,” he added. Committee members came from Chinese Taipei, Cambodia,
Hong Kong and Oman for the meeting. They heard that around 60 per cent of the OCA’s 45 NOCs had an athletes’ committee/commission and agreed that it was imperative that all 45 had athlete representation on the executive board to contribute to the decision-making process of the Olympic movement.
MINISTER GIVES ASIAN GAMES GUARANTEE
T
he first meeting of the new OCA Athletes’ Committee was marked by the attendance of the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Mr Basuki Hadimoeljono.
Members then went on a venue tour, including the GBK Main Stadium and aquatics centre, Athletes’ Village, and the velodrome and equestrian centre in East Jakarta.
The Minister said he wanted to convince the Asian athletes, through the OCA Athletes’ Committee, that all the preparations for the 2018 Asian Games were on the right track. He was referring specifically to the 14 venues inside the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in downtown Senayan and also to the Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran, North Jakarta. According to the presentation document, venue renovation will be completed by July 2017 – one year before the Asian Games – while the Athletes’ Village, with 10 towers in two blocks, will be fully furnished by November 2017. “Please believe us that we are going to stick to our schedule,” he said. “We are going to fulfill our target. With this opportunity it gives us the power to renovate these venues." Page 14
Minister Basuki Hadimoeljono greets the OCA Athletes’ Committee members.
Inside the OCA
SPORTS COMMITTEE PROPOSES CALENDAR CHANGE
T
he OCA’s influential Sports Committee is to recommend to the OCA Executive Board a change in the busy sports calendar. The Sports Committee, meeting for the first time under new Chairman Song Luzeng, will propose to the OCA EB that the Asian Beach Games (ABG) be held every four years instead of two. “We have so many games with the Olympic Games, Winter and Summer, the Youth Olympic Games, Winter and Summer, and in Asia we have five games, plus in each of the five regions we have different games,” Mr Song told the meeting, held at the Centara Grand Convention Centre in Bangkok on May 16. “In order to implement the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020, I suggest the Asian Beach Games be held every four years for the more sustainable development of Asian sport.”
The new OCA Sports Committee meets in Bangkok.
The ABG has been held in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, with the fifth edition set for Danang, Vietnam, this September. Mr Song, who is Secretary General of the Chinese Olympic
Committee, said the members had a “heavy role” in the development of sport in Asia, and they should each supervise certain sports during OCA events and assist the organising committees as much as possible.
OCA FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETS IN DOHA
T
he OCA Finance Committee met on Saturday, May 21 at the Doha Wyndham Grand Regency on the sidelines of the OCA/Olympic Solidarity Regional Forum for NOCs from West and Central Asia in Doha, Qatar. The meeting was attended by Mr Husain Al-Musallam, OCA Director General and Technical Director, and committee members led by the Chairman, Mr Kevin Kuo I-Chen of Chinese Taipei NOC.
Doha was the venue for the OCA Finance Committee.
It was the first meeting of the Finance Committee in the new OCA Olympic cycle following the Elective General Assembly at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, last September. Page 15
Inside the OCA
OCA SIGNS MOU FOR OLYMPIC VISION CENTRE OF ASIA
T
he OCA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Sports Relations Foundation in Korea to set up an Olympic Vision Centre of Asia. The MoU was signed by the OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, and by Mr Moon Daesung, President of the
International Sports Relations Foundation, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The objective of the MoU is to establish a recognised agency of the OCA – namely, the Olympic Vision Centre in Korea to play a key role in the training and education of athletes and athletes’ entourage. Mr Moon - Korean taekwondo gold medal-winner at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games - was named Chairman of the new OCA Entourage Committee last September, and this joint initiative with the OCA further establishes his role. The MoU will serve as a foundation to set up the Olympic Vision Centre of Asia, which will carry out a wide range of roles: to enhance the balanced development of sport in Asia to develop programmes supporting athletes and athletes’ entourage to promote the Olympic values by focusing on specialised education
Park Joohee, Deputy Director of the International Sports Relations Foundation Academy, and Haider Farman, Director of the OCA’s Asian Games department, display the MoU.
to organise joint conferences and forums, and to promote the exchange of information between NOCs.
OCA ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR CENTRAL ASIA
T
he OCA has a new Vice President for Central Asia – Mr Timur Kulibayev, President of Kazakhstan NOC. Mr Kulibayev succeeds Mr Termirkhan Dossmukhambetov, who tendered his resignation and expressed his inability to continue in the role as OCA VP for Central Asia due to personal reasons. The OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, nominated Mr Kulibayev to members of the OCA Executive Board in a circular dated April 5, 2016. His appointment is subject to ratification by the next General Assembly. Page 16
Mr Timur Kulibayev.
Chefs de Mission Seminar - Sapporo 2017
NOCS FULL OF PRAISE FOR SAPPORO CDM SEMINAR
E
ven without the snow in cherry blossom season, Sapporo offered a taste of what’s to come at the 8th Asian Winter Games in February 2017 during the Chefs de Mission Seminar from April 25-27. The magnificence of the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium, the natural beauty of the Shirahatayama Open Stadium and the high-tech indoor ice arenas left no one in any doubt that the OCA’s next Winter Games will be a big hit with athletes, officials and spectators alike. Add to this the organisational expertise of the Japanese, the precision of the daily schedule and Sapporo’s vast experience of hosting major international sports events, and the 46 delegates from 31 NOCs went home with positive vibes about Sapporo 2017.
A venue tour followed in the afternoon, visiting several of the 11 venues to be used in Sapporo, including the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink for the closing ceremony. The second day included the final presentations from the various departments, followed by a city tour, while the third day involved a three-hour bus journey through scenic Hokkaido to Obihiro to visit the speed skating venue and official hotel for athletes and officials. Nepal’s Tej Gurung concluded: “My overall observation was excellent.” No one would disagree with that. See Also - Pages 18-19: CDM Seminar Photo Special. Page: CDM Seminar Notice Board.
“The programme was so well-planned and executed,” said Sri Lanka’s Maxwell De Silva. “Time management was great. The arrangements were excellent and the staff well-mannered.” Antony Lee of Singapore added: “They were well-prepared and experienced. The facilities were beautiful and the presentations were thoughtful and well-structured.” The Seminar began on Monday, April 25 with a plea from OCA Life Vice President Wei Jizhong for all 45 NOCs to embrace winter sports and attend the 8th AWG, even if they were from regions without snow.
Venue tour at the Shirahatayama Open Stadium for cross-country skiing.
8TH ASIAN WINTER GAMES 2017 Host city: Co-host city: Dates: Opening Ceremony: Closing Ceremony: Sports:
Sapporo Obihiro February 19-26, 2017 Sapporo Dome, Sunday, February 19 (3pm or 4pm, to be decided) Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink, Sunday, February 26 (6pm) 5 (11 disciplines) 1: Skiing - Alpine, Cross Country, Ski Jumping, Freestyle, Snowboard 2: Biathlon 3: Skating - Speed Skating, Short Track, Figure Skating 4: Ice Hockey 5: Curling Events: 64 Competition Venues: 12 (11 in Sapporo, Speed Skating at Obihiro) Mascot: Ezomon Page 17
Chefs de Mission Seminar - Sapporo 2017
SOUVENIRS FROM SAPPORO
Sri Lanka's Maxwell De Silva, a fluent Japanese speaker, is interviewed by the local media.
Pakistan’s top sweeper, Qaswar Abbas Naqvi, brushes up on his curling skills.
All aboard the Dushanbe Express:Tajikistan's Muhammadsho Abdulloyev test drives an ice-smoothing machine.
The Korean delegation enjoying the city tour.
CDM group photo outside the Obihiro Forest Speed Skating Oval. Page 18
Chefs de Mission Seminar - Sapporo 2017
- SEE YOU IN 2017!
A venue guide updates the delegates.
Delegates check out one of the skating arenas.
Bahrain's Maryam Haider Mardana lines up a selfie at the top of the imposing Okurayama ski jump, with Sapporo in the distance. Page 19
Chefs de Mission Seminar - Sapporo 2017
NOTICE BOARD ations l Feder r, of the a n El o ti e a memb ons, N mpetiti r provisional mber 19 o c g n In skati a member, o nion by Nove athletes will e U e must b nal Skating umber - or th o ti N Interna for Entry by pete. ne deadli llowed to com a not be ity igibil
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Asian W in tation C ter Games Ide ntity an ard (AW dA G Japan w ithout a IAC) holders c ccredia visa fro March m Janu n enter 13, 201 ary 20 7 (53 d to ays).
Pre-DRMs The Pre-Delegation Registration Meetings with NOCs will be conducted in Sapporo on October 19-20, 2016.
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er 16 umb 22, 20 016 N y ,2 yb ber Entr : Octo ber 19 t m r e 016 Sta Nov me : 1, 2 a d 2 n N r E 017 y by mbe Entr : Dece y 19, 2 t r Star Janua : End
The draw for Ice Hockey and Curling will be conducted on a date to be announced after the Entry by Name deadline of January 19, 2017. Desi
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Cultural Programme Includes Tea Ceremony, Kimono-dressing and arts and crafts.
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DRMs Delegation Registration Mee from Februa ry 12-17, 20 tings will be held 17, at the A Hotel in Sap thletes’ poro – APA Hotel and R esort.
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Online Accreditation System: From June 19 to September 19, 2016 Media Online Accreditation System: From June 19 to October 31, 2016
entre tion C es n e v n Gam ro Co M Sappo sian Winter : e r t n Ce ro A Media ster: Sappo BS) Main a c A road e (S W Host B sting Servic ca Broad s
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Athletes’ Hotels Sapporo: APA Hotel and Resort (903 rooms, 1,900 capacity). February 12-27. Obihiro: Hotel Nikko Northland (80 rooms, 120 guests expected). February 15-24.
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Team Sports Draw
Games Update FOOTBALL BREAKTHROUGH IS GOOD NEWS FOR ASIAN GAMES
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he 4th OCA Coordination Committee meeting for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang from August 18-September 2, 2018 was held at the New Kuta Hotel in Bali on May 11. Bali was chosen to host the meeting because its capital, Denpasar, will be one of six cities organising an Asian Games Park to promote the 18th Asiad throughout Indonesia.
Mr Erick Thohir, Chairman of the 18th Asian Games organising committee and President of the Indonesian Olympic Committee, said the lifting of the sanctions would lead to a smooth build-up for football in the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Jakarta in November 2017 and the 18th Asian Games.
The meeting began with the news that the Indonesian government had lifted the sanctions on the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), clearing the way for FIFA to do the same and allow Indonesian football back into international sport.
The Chairman of the OCA Coordination Committee, Mr Tsunekazu Takeda, agreed that this was an important development in the organisation of the games.
The ban was imposed in April 2015 after a dispute between the PSSI and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
In other news from the meeting: Bowling was switched from a flooding-prone venue in Jakarta to a new international bowling centre in Palembang. The final sports programme will be confirmed by the OCA in September after the IOC Session in Rio in August, when some sports are expected to be added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, notably baseball/softball. The organising committee will propose two new sports - Mechanical Sports (paragliding and jetski) and Bridge - for OCA approval if there is room for additional sports. The OCA clarified that baseball/softball will be held in Jakarta, and that all the aquatic disciplines will take place at the refurbished aquatics centre in the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex, and not in Palembang.
OCA CC Chairman Tsunekazu Takeda receives a gift from Indonesia NOC in Bali.
The proposed dates for the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Jakarta are November 12-19, 2017. The nine sports are: athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, cycling (BMX and mountain bike), football, taekwondo, wushu, karate and pencak silat.
SPORTS PROGRAMME UPDATE FOR 18TH ASIAN GAMES 2018 Olympic Sports (28): Archery, aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball (including 3x3), boxing, canoe/kayak, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis/soft tennis, triathlon, volleyball/beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling. Non-Olympic Sports (8): Martial arts (six events - karate, kurash, wushu, sambo, pencak silat and jujitsu), sepak takraw, kabaddi, sport climbing, cricket, bowling, squash, baseball/softball. Proposed Additional Sports (2): Mechanical Sports (paragliding and jet ski), bridge. Sports at Palembang: Basketball (men and women preliminary rounds), canoe/kayak, football (men – preliminary round; women – all the competition including the final), rowing, shooting, tennis/soft tennis, triathlon, beach volleyball, bowling, sepak takraw, sport climbing. (Bridge – if approved by OCA). Page 21
Games Update
DANANG SET TO OFFER COMPACT, FIVE-STAR
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he Chefs de Mission Seminar for the OCA’s 5th Asian Beach Games this September took place on Wednesday, June 1 at the Royal Lotus Hotel in Danang. The day was comprised of three main components: the seminar in the morning, followed by a venue tour in the afternoon and welcome dinner in the evening. When it was time for the delegates from 38 National Olympic Committees to leave this central coastal city, the stage was set for what promises to be a compact and five-star event for athletes, officials and spectators alike. The 14 sports will be contested in one of four venue clusters along the sweeping bay, while the athletes will be accommodated in some of the best hotels available, such as the Grand Mercure in Danang City and the Grand Tourane on the sea front. Both of these hotels were of an exceptional standard, and will provide the athletes with not only the best environment and conditions to produce their maximum performance, but also put them close to the heart of Danang from a tourist point of view. Regarding the local people, they fill the beaches, the promenade and the sea at dawn and dusk on a daily basis, so will
The picturesque promendae at Danang. Page 22
surely embrace the wide range of sports on offer, especially with the Vietnamese team going for gold on their home sand. The OCA’s Honorary Life Vice President, Mr Wei Jizhong, reminded the NOC delegates that the OCA was the driving force of the beach games concept. “The beach games started in Asia, initiated by the OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah, and is now becoming universal,” said Mr Wei. “This time in Danang we will have approximately 3,000 athletes in 14 sports and 22 disciplines. This will give athletes in the whole of Asia the possibility to take part in this beach games and enjoy the harmony and friendship of the OCA family.” The Chairman of organising committee DABGOC, Vice Minister Le Khanh Hai, said that Danang would build on the success of the previous four editions of the ABG: Bali 2008, Muscat 2010, Haiyang 2012 and Phuket 2014. “We are 115 days to the start of the 5th Asian Beach Games, and we are making the best effort to prepare an exciting and attractive Asian Beach Games,” he said.
The NOC delegates on the venue tour.
Games Update
BEACH GAMES Other points of interest: Boats for the coastal rowing will be provided by the organisers. The date of the Technical Delegates meeting and draw for team sports has still to be fixed. Bodybuilding athletes must submit a negative doping test from a WADA-accredited lab, endorsed by the NOC, to the organisers one month before the ABG. They will also be subject to another test on arrival, preferably four days before the start of competition.
DANANG 2016 Opening Ceremony: September 24, 8pm-9.30pm Closing Ceremony: October 3, 6pm-7pm Ceremony Venue: Bien Dong Park Square/Flag Plaza Sports: 14 Disciplines: 22 Events: 172 Athletes: 3,500 Officials: 1,500 Total Participants: 5,000
Key Dates: June 30: Entry by Name deadline September 15: All venues operational September 17-21: Delegation Registration Meetings September 22-23: Team Welcome Ceremonies September 25: 35th OCA General Assembly
A plan for one of the four venue clusters.
Venues: 4 venue clusters, 7km apart Main Media Centre: September 20-October 4 Host Broadcaster: Vietnam TV Slogan: Shining Sea, Bright Future Mascot: Swiftlet Accreditation: http://accreditation.abg2016.com/ Website: abg2016.com
Beach life in Danang. Page 23
Games Update
SHEIKH AHMAD PRAISES AIMAG PREPARATIONS
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he OCA President, H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, praised the excellent progress of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan as he visited the host city to attend a ceremony on May 5 celebrating 500 days to go. Sheikh Ahmad was warmly welcomed by the President of Turkmenistan and President of Turkmenistan NOC, H.E. Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, as they discussed the preparations for the 5th AIMAG in September 2017. Sheikh Ahmad was delighted to see that preparations are well ahead of schedule with the new, US$5 billion Olympic Complex already completed. The Olympic Complex, located on the historical Silk Road, represents the coming together of the new and the old in Turkmenistan and is one of the most state-of-the-art sports facilities in the world. The athletes’ village, which will host more than 5,000 athletes from 62 NOCs in Asia and Oceania, is also finished and the new airport is three months away from completion. Sheikh Ahmad said: “I would like to congratulate His Excellency President Berdimuhamedov, the Turkmenistan NOC and everyone involved in the preparations for the AIMAG 2017 on the excellent progress they have made. “I have no doubt that Ashgabat will host a fantastic event next year and that it will leave a positive, lasting legacy for the country and the entire region.”
Sheikh Ahmad with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
RECORD NUMBERS FOR 6TH CHILDREN OF ASIA GAMES
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he OCA’s support for the Children of Asia International Sport Games is paying off with record numbers set to compete in the sixth addition at Yakutsk, Russian Federation, this July 5-17.
This is twice the number that competed in the fifth edition in 2012, and with two more teams still to be confirmed they are hoping to reach 40 NOCs. “This is a record – and it is what we were aiming for,” said the OCA’s Director of the Asian Games department, Mr Haider Farman, during a presentation by the organising committee in Bangkok. “I hope at the end we will reach 45 NOCs.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Games, which began in 1996, and the organisers have 46 teams from 38 countries lined up for the 22 sports, 30 disciplines and 300 events. Page 24
There will be 12 competition venues, 750 referees and judges and over 120 cultural events, as well as an international conference to promote children in sport.
News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Afghanistan Afghanistan taekwondo athletes won 19 medals at the Tajikistan Open, reports the Bakhtar News Agency in Kabul.
Bangladesh Uzzal Chandra Sutradhar (right in photo) of Narshingdi and Tanzila Akter of BKSP became the fastest sprinters in their respective 100m dashes in the Adolescent Category at the 32nd National Junior Athletics Championship at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Abdul Saboor Umomi, an official of the Taekwondo Federation affiliated to the NOC, said his athletes won three gold, five silver and 11 bronze medals against players from Iran, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Uzzal clocked 10.83 seconds, while Tanzila won gold in 13.10 seconds, reports the Daily Star in Dhaka. Bahrain The Bahrain Olympic Committee and Ministry of Education organised the third School Mini Olympics in which more than 3,000 students from 16 government and 18 private schools took part in nine sports.
The closing ceremony included a presentation from Bahrain NOC Executive Board member and Bahrain FA President Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa to the Ministry’s representative, Dr Shaikha Al Jeeb.
Bhutan The Bhutan Olympic Committee, in partnership with the Korean Sports Promotion Organisation, will be constructing a multi-sports hall at Jungshina, Thimphu. The total cost of USD 600,000 includes the development of the project site and sports equipment.
HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, the Representative of His Majesty the King and the President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, presided over the ground breaking ceremony on May 27.
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News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Brunei Darussalam Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam organised a free “Train the Trainer” basketball workshop on Sunday, May 29 at the International School Brunei in Salambigar, reports The Brunei Times.
China Top seed China secured their third straight Uber Cup title - and 14th overall - by beating South Korea 3-1 in the final of the women’s badminton world team championship at Kunshan, China.
China’s three points came from Li Xuerui and Wang Shixian in the singles and teenage pair Chen Qingchen/Tang Yuanting in the doubles, reports the China Sports Daily. Photo: chinanews.com The workshop was conducted by Shooting Stars Brunei Basketball coaches Ken Han and Rachael Lee, who joined a similar programme in Singapore (photo). DPR Korea Cambodia Cambodia’s Sotheara Chov has been awarded a universality place in the women’s 48kg wrestling competition at Rio 2016, reports the NOCC.
The decision was taken by the IOC’s Tripartite Commission after they received requests from NOCs eligible for invitational places at the Games. The Commission awards 110 places in 16 individual sports which are then made available for allocation to the eligible NOCs. ©Getty Images
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Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, watched a basketball game between the Sobaeksu men's team of the DPRK and the Chinese Olympic men's team in Pyongyang on May 30. Sobaeksu won 82-73.
Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the successful game as the players displayed deep friendship and admirable technique, reports the Korean Central News Agency.
News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Indonesia
Hong Kong, China The third issue of “Olympic Voice of Hong Kong”, the official newsletter of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, was released on April 28. The popular Sing Tao Daily newspaper also published a version to attract the general public.
The Ministry of Tourism promoted Indonesia’s premier golfing destinations at the Thailand Golf Expo at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok from May 12-15, reports Antara News in Jakarta. “Indonesia is a paradise for golfers. People can play all year round as the game is not affected by seasonal changes," said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya. The minister said 114 courses in the country met international standards, and have a backdrop of mountains, active volcanoes, oceans, lakes, forests, and city skylines.
N.O.C.I.R.IRAN
The bilingual magazine, in Chinese and English, is packed with news, reports and photos in the build-up to Rio 2016 and includes a rallying message from NOC President Timothy Fok.
Iran
Rio-bound sprinter Reza Ghasemi won gold in the 100 metres and bronze in the 200 at the 20th national athletics meet in Jena, Germany, reports Mehr News Agency in Tehran.
India India’s “vault queen” Dipa Karmakar has become the first Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games, reports The Hindu. Dipa, 22, from Tripura, qualified during the test event at Rio. She was also the first Indian female gymnast to win a medal (bronze) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and added another bronze at the Asian Gymnastics Championships in Hiroshima, Japan, in 2015.
Ghasemi, who trains in Germany and competes on the European circuit, clocked 10.40 seconds in his heat and 10.28 in the final to win the 100. His time in the 200 was 21.12 to claim third.
Iraq Iraq finished seventh in the men’s team classification at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 22-30 with two silver and two bronze medals. Ali Mohammed Ridha Ali came second in the men’s 62kg snatch (125kg) and third in the clean and jerk (152kg) to place third overall with a total lift of 277kg.
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News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Japan Despite back and knee injury worries, London Olympics silver medalwinner Hiromi Miyake, 30, has been named with four other weightlifters to compete in Rio, reports Kyodo News.
Kazakhstan NOC President Timur Kulibayev congratulated boxing superstar Gennady Golovkin on his victory over Dominic Wade in their IBF Middleweight Championship fight in Los Angeles, California. The message read: “In spite of the early hour, hundreds of thousands of Kazakhstani fans, including me, watched your fight. And you met our wildest hopes, knocking out the athlete, who was previously unbeaten. Your victory raised higher the authority of the Kazakh national school of boxing, and all Kazakhstani sport. I wish you success, luck and new achievements!” (www.olympic.kz)
Korea Miyake, named to compete in the 48kg division by the Japan Weightlifting Association, will take part in her fourth straight Olympics. The other four members are: Kanae Yagi (women’s 53kg), Mikiko Ando (women’s 58kg), Namika Matsumoto (women’s 63kg) and Yoichi Itokazu (men’s 62kg).
Jordan Nash, Jordan Olympic Committee’s children’s ambassador, has welcomed the 2,000th member to his club following another actionpacked Kids Day held in Madaba.
Around 150 children from the Usrah School joined the popular character for a day of activity which encourages children to make sport and healthy living a part of their everyday lives. (www.joc.jo)
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Former South Korean Olympic wrestling champion Park Jang-soon will be inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame on August 12 in Rio, reports Yonhap News. Park, 44, won the 1992 Olympic gold in the 74kg freestyle event, and a silver medal at both the 1988 and 1996 Olympics. He has been coaching the national team since 2013.
News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Kuwait Kuwait won the inaugural Bahrain Open Hockey Tournament by beating Qatar 3-2 in the final at Manama, reports the Kuwait News Agency KUNA. The final was exciting and the competition was fierce, according to Kuwait Club for Winter Games spokesman Bashar Al-Nassar. The tournament was held to support the recently founded Bahrain hockey federation and to give experience to all teams, he added.
Kyrgyzstan The Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament, Asylbek Jeenbekov, received the President of the Asian Wrestling Council, Dr Kim Chang-kew, to discuss the development of the sport in the country, reports Kabar National News Agency.
Macau, China The Macau NOC joined a tour by the Macau Sports Bureau to visit the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) and attend a training course in Beijing Sport University from April 11-14. The NOC representatives in a 32-strong group included President Charles Lo and 12 members of the NOC. The new President of the Macau Sports Bureau, Mr Pun Weng Kun, met with the President of GASC, Mr Liu Peng, who is also President of the Chinese Olympic Committee.
The meeting was attended by MP Asylbek uulu Damirbek and by the NOC President, Sharshenbek Abdykerimov. The Asian Wrestling Championships will be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2018.
Laos The NOC is hoping to be represented by a five-strong team of athletes at Rio 2016, with two places in swimming and in athletics and one place in cycling (road race), with their leading cyclist now training in France.
Lebanon The Sports and Youth Minister, Abdul Mottalib Hennawi, received at his office the President of the Lebanese Olympic Committee, Jean Hammam, on May 9 to discuss the sports situation in Lebanon. Hammam was notified of the contributions made by the ministry to athletes in their quest to qualify for the Rio Olympics and the NOC President thanked the minister for this support, reports the National News Agency of the Lebanese Republic Ministry of Information.
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News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Malaysia The Olympic Council of Malaysia hosted a dialogue session with 22 representatives of 10 local sponsors on Wednesday, May 4 at the OCM Board Room to discuss sponsorship activities surrounding Rio 2016.
Mongolia Mongolia secured qualification for the Olympic taekwondo competition for the first time thanks to Temuujin Purevjav’s second-place finish in the men’s -68kg at the Asian qualification championship in Manila.
The dialogue was chaired by Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, Deputy President of OCM and Chairman of OCM Finance, Marketing and Sponsorship Committee.
Other OCM personnel in attendance were Dato’ Paduka Mumtaz Jaffar (Vice President), Dato’ Low Beng Choo (Secretary General), Mr. Ahmad Feisal Ahmad Tajuddin (Acting Treasurer), Datuk Dr. Sean Paul and Mr. Aimi Aizal Nasharuddin (Members of OCM Finance, Marketing and Sponsorship Committee). (http://www.olympic.org.my/)
Myanmar English Premier League champions Leicester City won over Myanmar’s football fans with a fleeting visit to Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda on May 22.
Maldives In a press conference held on May 10 at Maldives NOC HQ, Secretary General Ahmed Marzooq congratulated Ahmed Abdul Gafoor “Gabbe” and Adam Faisal for being selected to participate in the TOPCAT World Sailing Championship in Croatia later this year. This is the first time a Maldivian has been invited to participate in the world sailing championship, added Marzooq. (www.nocmaldives.org)
Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, a devout Catholic, was in attendance and was pictured sitting with hands in prayer alongside Leicester’s Thai owner, billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, reports the Myanmar Times. Photo: Myanmar Times.
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News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Nepal Olympic scholarship athlete Nisha Rawal has been given a wild card to compete in the women’s +73kg Rio 2016 taekwondo competition. Nepal NOC is still waiting to hear if applications in other sports have been successful.
Pakistan The Punjab Olympic Association organised a seminar on doping to create awareness about the consequences of doping and the use of performance-enhancing drugs which could lead to death, reports the Daily Times.
(www.nocnepal.org.np)
Pakistan Olympic Association President Lt-Gen (r) Syed Arif Hasan and POA Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mahmood were among the speakers.
Palestine
Oman Omani national football team captain Ali Al Habsi (left in photo) has described the Summer Sports Programme, which aims at engaging both Omani and expatriate children and youth in sports activities during the summer break, as a “great initiative” that is benefiting the society in many aspects, reports the Times of Oman.
The President of the Palestinian NOC, Jibril Mahmoud Muhammad Rajoub, informed the IOC President about a variety of matters connected with the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the position of sport in his country during their meeting in Lausanne. (www.olympic.org)
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News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Philippines The Philippines earned an Olympic slot in taekwondo through 26-year-old Elaine Alora, who won the silver medal in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Marriott Manila.
Singapore The Singapore National Olympic Council Selection Committee, chaired by Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development and President of SNOC, met on May 31 to consider the athletes who have made the cut and have been nominated by the National Sports Associations to be part of Team Singapore at Rio 2016. Alora is seen here (second from right) with POC President Peping Cojuangco Jr and her teammates. (www.olympic.ph).
Qatar The Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary General, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Thani Al-Kuwari, met with the World Chess Federation’s Deputy President, Georgios Markopoulos, at the QOC HQ on June 1.
A total of 21 athletes have earned quota places but the final total could be 24. (www.snoc.org.sg)
Sri Lanka Talks focused on cooperation between the two organisations and ways of supporting and promoting such cooperation in the future. The chess official praised Qatar’s sports infrastructure, development and its ambitious goal to promote sport in the region. (www.olympic.qa)
Saudi Arabia The Saudi Press Agency reports that national karate team member Emad Al-Malki topped the rankings in the 60kg kumite category following the eighth round of the global league organised by the World Karate Federation. Al-Malki has collected 1,645 points to lead the standings ahead of Abdulhadi Al-Malki, who is third with 1,155 points.
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Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General of NOC Sri Lanka, visited the Japanese Olympic Committee on April 28 and met with the JOC President, Tsunekazu Takeda, Secretary General and other officials to discuss sports exchange and cooperation. (www.srilankaolympic.org)
News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Syria The 10-strong Refugee Olympic team (ROT) for the Rio Olympics, selected by the IOC, includes two swimmers originally from Syria: Rami Anis (male, host NOC Belgium) and Yusra Mardini (female, host NOC Germany).
Tajikistan The first gathering of the Central Asia zone of the OCA took place in the Kazakh capital, Astana, reports Asia-Plus from Dushanbe.
(www.olympic.org)
According to Tajikistan NOC, delegates attended from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Iran, as well as the Kazakh Minister of Culture and Sport, Arystanbek Muhamediuly. Tajikistan was represented by Bahrullo Radzhabaliev, NOC SecretaryGeneral (pictured)
Thailand Chinese Taipei The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee hosted an Executive Committee meeting of the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) on April 8.
Boxer Chatchai Butdee, 31, will be heading for his second Olympic Games after qualifying for Rio at bantamweight (men’s 56kg). Chatchai reached the second round at London 2012 in the flyweight division.
The CTOC took the opportunity to stage the 2016 International Conference of Sports Medicine on the same day, under the theme “Sports Medicine: the Highlights and Updates.” (www.tpenoc.net).
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News and Sport from 45 NOCs
Timor-Leste Timor-Leste’s team in the 8th Asian Winter Games-Sapporo 2017 will be a family affair, with the lone athlete Yohan Goutt Goncalves accompanied by his mother, the Chef de Mission Carolina De Mascarenhas, who is pictured at the Chefs de Mission Seminar in Sapporo.
The sports are shooting (pistol and rifle), equestrian, athletics, swimming, archery, fencing, judo, sailing, cycling (road race), basketball (3 × 3) and table tennis. (www.uaenoc.net)
Uzbekistan A sports festival for women, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of independence, was held in Fergana and attracted more than 300 participants in swimming, running and volleyball, reports Uzbekistan National News Agency.
Born to a French father and Timorese mother, Yohan, who is 21 and lives in Paris, represented Timor-Leste at the Sochi Winter Olympics. He will compete in slalom and giant slalom at Sapporo.
Turkmenistan About 400 volunteers, mainly Turkmen students, took part in a festival organised by the Ministry of Education jointly with other higher education establishments in the country. The aim of the festival was to prepare the students for their volunteer work at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in September 2017 at Ashgabat.
United Arab Emirates Vietnam Representatives of GCC sports federations reviewed the preparations for the first Gulf Cooperation Council Junior Games to be hosted by the UAE from September 15-21, 2016. The attendees discussed the games technical regulations, which were due to be finalised by June 2.
The opposition proved much too strong for Vietnam in the AFC women’s football qualifying tournament for Rio. Vietnam finished bottom of the six-team round-robin with five defeats in five games and a goal difference of minus 21.
Yemen Yemen took a two-goal cushion into the second leg of their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifying playoff against the Maldives after goals from Aiman Al Hagri (30 minutes) and Akram Hamood (79th) earned the West Asian side a 2-0 away win in Male. The Yemenis picked up their first win since last November. (www.the-afc.com)
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Obituary
ZAHIR NASEER: MALDIVES NOC PIONEER
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he man recognised as the Founding Father of the modern sports movement in the Maldives, Mohamed Zahir Naseer, NIIV, passed away in Male’ on Wednesday, May 25. Mr Zahir Naseer played an important role in the formation of the Maldives Olympic Committee in 1979. He was President at the time of its recognition by the IOC, in 1985, through to 2008.
Recognising his dedication and services to sport in the Maldives, Mr Zahir Naseer was given the National Award of Service in Sport in 1979 and later the National Award of Honour in Sport in 1992.
During his tenure he served tirelessly in developing sport in the Maldives, taking Maldivian sportsmen and women to compete in international sports events for the first time in the country’s history. His most notable achievements include the establishment of the Naseer Sports Academy, later known as the New Sports Academy, serving solely for the development of local sport, athletes and the Olympic values. After serving as President for almost 30 years, Mr Zahir Naseer opted not to compete in the MOC elections and left his post in 2008. In 2011 he was awarded Honorary President of MOC.
MICHAEL KARUNATHILAKE
Mr Zahir Naseer. strength to all the National Sports Organisations and office bearers of the NOC, with whom he worked very closely. In recognition of his long and dedicated service, he was awarded the “IOC Lifetime Award” in January 2016.
SAIF ABOUEDEL The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced the passing of Saif Abouedel, FIG Executive Committee member and President of the Kuwait Gymnastics Federation, at the age of 48, following a long illness.
On April 27, Sri Lanka NOC announced the passing of Mr Michael Karunathilake, former Administrative Secretary of the NOC. Mr Karunathilake was associated with the Olympic movement in Sri Lanka from 1983 to 2015, when he retired due to ill health. During his tenure at the NOC he was considered a pillar of
“We are saddened by the loss of Saif Abouedel, who played an important role in the development of our sport in Kuwait and the whole Arab world,” said FIG President Bruno Grandi.
ROSLI ABDUL KADIR The Olympic Council of Malaysia announced the passing of Rosli Abdul Kadir, who died following a road accident on the morning of May 22. Rosli was a dual international in road cycling and race walking. He represented Malaysia in cycling in the four major Games, namely the Perth 1962 Commonwealth Games, the Jakarta 1962 Asian Games, where he won a bronze medal
in the team road race, the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games and the SEAP Games in Bangkok 1967 and Yangon 1969. On his retirement from cycling, Rosli took up a totally different sport, race walking, and managed to be selected in the 20km race walk in the Singapore 1973 SEA Games. He was inducted to the OCM Hall of Fame in 2013. Page 35
OCA Sports Diary
2016 Tokyo, Japan: May 28 – June 5 FIVB Asia/World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in men’s volleyball
Doha, Qatar: November 14 ANOC Executive Council Doha, Qatar: November 15 21st ANOC General Assembly, ANOC Awards 2016
Lausanne, Switzerland: June 1 IOC Executive Board Beijing, China: June 27 1st IOC Coordination Commission for 2022 Winter Olympics
Tokyo, Japan: November 24 Rio Olympics Debriefing Lausanne, Switzerland: December 6 IOC Executive Board
Yakutsk, Russian Federation: July 5 – 17 6th Children of Asia International Sport Games
Geneva, Switzerland: December 7 International Sports Convention 2016
Manila, Philippines: July 5 – 10 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in men’s basketball, Mall of Asia
2017 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: July 30 IOC Executive Board
Sapporo, Japan: February 19 – 26 8th OCA Asian Winter Games
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: August 1 129th IOC Session
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: August 19 – 31 29th SEA Games
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: August 5 – 21 Olympic Games
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: September 7 – 18 Paralympic Games
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: September 15 – 24 5th OCA Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games San Diego, USA: September 29 – October 9 1st ANOC World Beach Games
September 24 OCA Executive Board, Danang, Vietnam
Jakarta, Indonesia: November 12 – 19 3rd OCA Asian Youth Games
Danang, Vietnam: September 24 – October 3 5th OCA Asian Beach Games 2018 Danang, Vietnam: September 25 35th OCA General Assembly
PyeongChang, Korea: February 9 – 25 Olympic Winter Games
PyeongChang, Korea: October 5 7th IOC Coordination Commission for 2018 Winter Olympics
PyeongChang, Korea: March 9 – 18 Paralympic Winter Games
Doha, Qatar: November 13 ANOC Commissions and Working Groups
Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia: August 18 – September 2 18th OCA Asian Games
www.ocasia.org