Sporting Asia - Edition 36 - MAR 2017 by Dunsar Media Company Limited

Official Newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia

Edition 36 - March 2017

SAPPORO 2017 SPECIAL EDITION OCA Executive Board OCA's new offices OCA Games Update

Contents

Inside your 36-page Sporting Asia 8th Asian Winter Games Sapporo 2017 Special Edition

3 President’s Message

ANOC welcomes new Chinese Olympic Committee President

4 – 7 News In Pictures 8 - 10 Inside the OCA

69th OCA Executive Board meeting OCA opens offices in Jakarta and Bangkok OCA/OS visit Nepal NOC Regional Forums 2017

11 – 26 SAPPORO 2017

12 – 13

Eight reasons why 8th AWG was a big success

14 – 15

Facts and Figures, Medals Table

16 – 17

Sport by Sport Round-up

18 – 19

Photo Special – Stars on Ice and Snow

20 – 21

Sheikh Ahmad in Sapporo

22 – 23

Figure Skating highlights winter sports boom

24 – 25

No snow? No ice? No problem!

Sporting Asia is the official newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia, published quarterly. Executive Editor / Director General Husain Al-Musallam husain@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 Olympic Council of Asia PO Box 6706, Hawalli Zip Code 32042 Kuwait Telephone: +965 22274277 - 88 Fax: +965 22274280 - 90 Email: info@ocasia.org Website: www.ocasia.org

Postcards from Sapporo

27 Women In Sport – New Feature 28 – 30 Games Update

Ashgabat 2017 Jakarta – Palembang 2018

31NOC Elections 32 – 33

Asia’s Olympic Era 2018 – 2020 – 2022 – New Feature

34 Awards for Asia’s top athletes

32 Page 02

35 Obituary 36 OCA Sports Diary, Sponsors’ Club

Front cover: GO, SPEED RACER, GO: Japan’s Nao Kodaira speeds around the Obihiro Forest Speed Skating Oval on her way to gold. © SAWGOC / JapanSports

President’s Message

2017 – A GROUND-BREAKING YEAR FOR OCA

elcome to the ninth year – and the 36th edition – of the OCA’s official newsletter, Sporting Asia! Even though 2017 falls in between the Summer Olympics of Rio 2016 and the Winter Olympics of PyeongChang 2018, it still promises to be a busy and eventful year for our National Olympic Committees. Our two big events began with the 8th Asian Winter Games in Japan in February, and this latest edition of Sporting Asia focuses largely on Sapporo 2017. The second major games of the year for the OCA is the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in September. With the participation of 17 NOCs from Oceania alongside 45 from the OCA, this will be a ground-breaking games for both continental associations as we join forces for what promises to be a truly memorable event. Not only will AIMAG 5 provide the opportunity to display the unity and solidarity of the Olympic Movement, with 5,000 athletes from 62 NOCs competing in 21 sports, it will also give the host country the chance to show their magnificent Ashgabat Olympic Complex to the world. This joint participation opens a new chapter of cooperation in the OCA and ONOC, and we are very proud to be expanding the Olympic foot print in the region and beyond. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and to congratulate the President of Turkmenistan, His Excellency Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for the enthusiastic support he has shown to the OCA in the years leading up to AIMAG 5. We are sure all this hard work, dedication and devotion to his country and his people will be rewarded with an unforgettable event in September.

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah President, Olympic Council of Asia President, Association of National Olympic Committees Chairman, IOC Olympic Solidarity Commission

ANOC PRESIDENT WELCOMES NEW CHINA NOC PRESIDENT TO LAUSANNE

delegation from the Chinese Olympic Committee - led by the newly elected NOC President and Minister of Sport, Mr Gou Zhongwen - paid a courtesy call to the ANOC Office in Lausanne on January 17.

OCA Director General Mr Husain Al Musallam and the Director of the OCA Asian Games department, Mr Haider Farman.

Mr Gou was accompanied by the NOC Vice President and Vice President of the General Administration of Sport of China, Mr Yang Shu’an, and by the NOC Secretary General, Mr Song Luzeng. The delegation was welcomed by the ANOC President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, Vice Presidents Dr Julio Maglione and Mr Yu Zaiqing and ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg. Also in attendance was the President of the International Handball Federation, Mr Hassan Moustafa,

The new COC President is pictured, sixth from the left. Page 03

News in Pictures

THE International Judo Federation has awarded the 14 judoka who ended 2016 as World No. 1 with an extra US$50,000 each in prize money. They include Mongolia’s Urantsetseg Munkhbat (women’s -48kg) and Sumiya Dorsuren (women’s -57kg), Korea’s An Baul (men’s -66kg) and Japan’s Takanori Nagase (men’s -81kg) and Mashu Baker (men’s -90kg). (www.ijf.org)

CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Hun Sen received the IOC President’s Trophy from IOC Executive Board member Ng Ser Miang of Singapore on January 25 in recognition of his efforts to develop sport at all levels throughout the Kingdom. (www.noccambodia.org)

HAPPY SPORTS DAY: Bahrain NOC organised its first National Sports Day on February 7 in cooperation with government ministries, national sports federations, sports clubs and the four governorates. A wide range of sports and activities in various parts of the Kingdom allowed people of all ages and nationalities to join the fun. Page 04

INDIA men’s hockey captain and star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, 28, has joined the FIH Athletes’ Committee, describing it as “a great honour” to represent the athletes in the development of the sport. (www.fih.ch)

News in Pictures

THE Secretary General of the Jordan Olympic Committee, Nasser Majali, presents the JOC’s ambitious and far-reaching four-year strategy that will steer the direction of sport over the next Olympic cycle. (www.joc.jo)

LEE Chong Wei of Malaysia won the Male Player of the Year award for the fifth time at the Badminton World Federation Gala in Dubai. Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo/Ayaka Takahashi won the Female Player of the Year award. (www.bwfcorporate.com)

The Badminton World Federation has selected five top players as the first Integrity Ambassadors to promote clean, fair and honourable sport. They include Saina Nehwal of India, pictured here with her mother, and Japan’s women’s doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi. (www.bwfcorporate.com) Page 05

News in Pictures

REPRESENTATIVES of the Singapore National Olympic Council Athletes' Commission held a meeting with SNOC President Tan ChuanJin on February 3 to exchange ideas and explore how they can contribute to the sports scene on behalf of the athletes.

KAZAKHSTAN NOC reports that “Kazpochta” (Kazpost) has released a new set of 40,000 postage stamps to honour their gold and silver medallists from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (www.olympic.kz)

QATAR NOC President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani honoured four new graduates from the QOC’s scholarship programme. They graduated from universities in England and Qatar and now work for the QOC. (www.olympic.qa)

NEPAL NOC President Jeevan Ram Shrestha opened the 2nd Sports Congress in Kathmandu on December 16-17. It was organised jointly by the Nepalese government and a number of non-governmental stakeholders and attracted 150 participants. (http://www.nocnepal.org.np) Page 06

News in Pictures

THE Japanese Olympic Committee completed the sixth year of its JOC International Sports Leaders' Academy with the graduation ceremony at the JOC National Training Centre on December 8. Fifty-one people from 31 National Sports Federations and other sports organisations took part. (www.joc.or.jp)

CHINESE Taipei Olympic Committee hosted a delegation from the Chinese Olympic Committee for the 20th annual CrossStrait NOC Forum to strengthen exchange and cooperation. (www.tpenoc.net.)

MACAU NOC President Mr Charles Lo presents a cheque to the Chinese Chess team for their achievements in 2016. The Macau government paid prize money of 4.4 million Patacas (570,000 USD) to 83 athletes and coaches from 10 sports at a gala dinner at the Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wharf on January 19. Page 07

Inside the OCA

OCA PRESIDENT: SAPPORO 2017 IS A DREAM COME TRUE

he 69th meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board was held at the Sapporo Grand Hotel on Sunday, February 19. The OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, said it was a great honour to be in Sapporo for the 8th Asian Winter Games, with the opening ceremony set for later that day at Sapporo Dome. He added: “We are very happy that one of our dreams came true – to support and continue the winter sports programme of these Games.” Sheikh Ahmad thanked Sapporo for the pioneering role it has played in the development of winter sports in Asia, hosting the first two editions of the AWG in 1986 and 1990 and now the eighth edition in 2017.

In other news from the EB meeting: The agenda included progress reports from the organisers of the next two OCA events – the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, this September, and the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia, in August 2018. The Executive Board supported the IOC resolution to continue to allow athletes from the suspended Kuwait Olympic Committee to participate under the IOC flag as Independent Olympic Athletes, including the Sapporo Asian Winter Games. The next OCA Executive Board meeting will take place at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in September, ahead of the General Assembly.

“When we had the dream to create the Asian Winter Games, only seven National Olympic Committees showed an interest,” he said. “Now we have two-thirds of Asia, with 30 NOCs plus the guest teams from Australia and New Zealand. “This shows how Asia is very keen to support winter sports because, after the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, we will have the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Korea, in 2018 and in Beijing, China, in 2022.” Sheikh Ahmad thanked the President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Mr Tsunekazu Takeda, the Mayor of Sapporo, Mr Katsuhiro Akimoto, Sapporo city and its citizens for “making the dream come true.”

OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam and Sheikh Ahmad in deep discussion during the EB meeting.

EB MEMBERS PAY TRIBUTE TO SHUNICHIRO OKANO Members observed a minute’s silence for the late Japanese IOC member and former Japan Football Association President Mr Shunichiro Okano, who passed away earlier in February aged 85. “He was a very close colleague for us in the football family, the IOC and the sports movement. We send our condolences to his family, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the football family of Japan,” said Sheikh Ahmad. Sheikh Ahmad conducts the EB meeting on Sunday, February 19. Page 08

Inside the OCA

OCA OPENS OFFICES IN JAKARTA AND BANGKOK

he Olympic Council of Asia has opened two new offices in South East Asia as part of the strategic roadmap approved at the OCA General Assembly in Vietnam last year.

The second office to be opened was the first of five regional offices approved by the General Assembly to serve the five zones of the OCA – in Bangkok, Thailand, for the SEA region.

The first office to be opened was an OCA representative office in Jakarta, Indonesia, to assist in the preparations for the 18th Asian Games, which will take place in Jakarta and Palembang in August-September 2018.

The other four regional offices are planned for Kuwait (West Asia), Almaty, Kazakhstan (Central Asia), Nansha, China (East Asia) and Delhi, India (South Asia). The OCA already has an office in the Olympic capital Lausanne, Switzerland.

JAKARTA

BANGKOK

The representative office in Jakarta will play a major role in the daily communications between the OCA and organising committee INASGOC.

The OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, attended the official opening of the OCA sub office for South East Asia in Bangkok on Tuesday, February 28.

Speaking at the Inauguration Ceremony on Tuesday, December 13, OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam said: “This new office will definitely add value for the Olympic Movement in Asia and especially for the Asian Games in 2018.

The OCA President joined the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, HE General Thanasak Patimaprakorn, the President of Thailand NOC, HE General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, and NOC Secretary General Général Charouck Arirachakaran at the official ceremony.

“This is a special occasion and a very positive step for both parties. It shows how important this cooperation and collaboration will be in the coming months to ensure the success of the 18th Asian Games.” The office is located at Plaza Asia in the Senayan district of the capital, close to the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex – the focal point of the 18th Asian Games.

OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam with Indonesian Olympic Committee and INASGOC President Erick Thohir.

Sheikh Ahmad said: “On behalf of the OCA I would like to offer my thanks to His Majesty the King of Thailand, the Thai government, the NOC of Thailand and the people of Thailand for your continued support to the Asian Olympic Movement and to the OCA. “Thailand has always been a highly valued partner of the OCA and shown itself to be an excellent host on many occasions, having hosted the Asian Games four times between 1966 and 1998. “This historic building, which is a symbol of democracy, will provide the perfect environment for the OCA’s operations in the region.”

Sheikh Ahmad opens the OCA regional office in Bangkok, Thailand. Page 09

Inside the OCA

OCA, OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY VISIT NEPAL NOC

epresentatives from Olympic Solidarity and the OCA visited Nepal Olympic Committee last November as part of the Olympic Solidarity Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans for the 2013-2016 Quadrennial.

Olympic Solidarity, together with the governing body in each of the five continental associations, chooses two NOCs per year to visit and see the daily operations and management of the NOC. In 2016, OCA visited Korea in April and Nepal in November to complete the quadrennial cycle. In Nepal, the OS/OCA delegation met with the NOC President, Secretary General, Executive Board members, NOC staff, National Federations and other beneficiaries of OS programmes. Specific discussions were conducted in the following areas: Institutional Administration Political and Social Environment Finance Activities

Nepal NOC welcomes the OS/OCA delegates.

The visits will serve to improve OS/OCA coordination and assistance, as well as to make sure that the NOCs are fulfilling their duties towards the Olympic Movement.

OS/OCA REGIONAL FORUMS 2017

NOCs from Central Asia, South East Asia and East Asia will be involved in the first of the forums â&#x20AC;&#x201C; at Incheon on March 28-29.

The main topics will be the new Olympic Solidarity Quadrennial Plan for 20172020 and presentations from the organising committees of the 5th AIMAG in Ashgabat this September and the 18th Asian Games in JakartaPalembang in 2018.

NOCs from West Asia and South Asia will travel to Muscat for the second forum on April 1-2.

The Chefs de Mission Seminar for Ashgabat 2017 will take place from April 4-8.

he OCA, in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity, will hold the two regional forums for 2017 in Korea and Oman for a maximum of two delegates per NOC.

OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam addressed the opening ceremony of the Executive Master in Sports Law degree programme at the Qatar Olympic Academy. The course runs from January to December 2017. (www.olympic.qa)

Page 10

Sporting Asia’s 16-page special on the 8th Asian Winter Games, Sapporo 2017

SAPPORO, ARIGATO! FACTS AND FIGURES POSTCARDS FROM SAPPORO PICTURE GALLERY

Speed skater Miho Takagi celebrates another Japanese victory at Obihiro. Takagi won a hat trick of individual titles: 1,500m, 3,000m and Mass Start. © SAWGOC / JapanSports

8th Asian Winter Games

SAPPORO 2017 – THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH

he OCA Vice President, Timothy Fok, summed up Sapporo 2017 at the Closing Ceremony on February 26.

“The venues have been world-class. Our Asian athletes have been world-class. And you – the people of Sapporo and Hokkaido – have been world-class. The perfect hosts,” he said.

“This has been a fantastic Asian Winter Games - for athletes, officials and spectators alike,” he told a cheering audience at the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink.

Here are EIGHT reasons why the 8th AWG was The Greatest Show (make that Snow) on Earth!

1. The number of NOCs: With the addition of guest athletes from Australia and New Zealand, a record 32 teams took part, six more than at the 7th AWG in AstanaAlmaty – Kazakhstan 2011. Five of the Asian NOCs were making their first appearance in the AWG: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. Indonesia was one of five Asian NOCs making their AWG debut at Sapporo 2017.

2. The record number of athletes: 1,152 - over 300 more than the previous highest, 843 at Kazakhstan 2011. Interestingly, there were more athletes at Sapporo 2017 than at Sapporo 1972 for the Winter Olympics – 1,006 from 35 countries.

Korean short trackers relax before their race. Korea sent 142 athletes to Sapporo 2017.

3. The spectators: The people of Sapporo, Obihiro and Hokkaido showed their passion for winter sports and cheered on the minnows as much as the mighty to underline the sentiment that Sapporo is truly the home of the AWG. A total of 79,828 tickets were sold over the nine days of competition and ceremony, including the ice hockey and curling preliminaries on February 18, the day before the Opening Ceremony. Sold Out at the Sapporo Curling Centre. 4. The venues: Many of the Sapporo venues were the legacy of the 1972 Winter Olympics, well looked after, well used and totally ready to host Sapporo 2017. No need for new constructions and massive public spending which would split the community. Thanks to this sensible and pragmatic approach, everyone was supporting Sapporo 2017 – and didn’t it show? Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink - a legacy of the 1972 Winter Olympics. Page 12

8th Asian Winter Games

5. Hospitality: The Japanese are well-known for their special hospitality – known as “omotenashi”. The calmness that this exudes on the part of the visitor prevented any minor logistical situation from escalating into a major problem. Not only were the 4,500 “Sapporo Smile” volunteers and staff omnipresent with their distinctive blue and white banners, they also knew exactly what to do - a sign of thorough training and dedicated workers. The food at the Japanese Olympic Committee Reception was typical of the wonderful hospitality at Sapporo 2017.

6. The Opening Ceremony: Simple, elegant, cool…a true delight to set the scene for the action to come. Athletes are often last on the list when it comes to lavish opening ceremonies, but at Sapporo 2017 they were most definitely first, thanks in part to a 4pm start. (Whose idea was that? Excellent!) The parade into Sapporo Dome was first on the agenda, with a seat in the stands waiting for the athletes so they could watch the official protocol in comfort. They also had an early departure opportunity after the first part of the ceremony, making sure they would be home in the early evening as opposed to the early hours of the following morning. Top marks for the organisers here. How about a 12 noon start for Tokyo 2020? The delegation from Macau, China enters Sapporo Dome. 7. The outstanding natural beauty of Sapporo and Hokkaido: The snow-covered mountains, the winding roads through the forests, the glorious sunshine and blue skies by day and flurries of snow by night….a true winter delight. Also striking and commendable is the subtle way the winter sports venues have been incorporated into this majestic landscape, working with the natural flow of nature rather than destroying it. Majestic Sapporo. 8. Ezomon: What a brilliant mascot this was – and he could skate, too, as he proved at the Closing Ceremony ice show! Ezomon was everywhere, a fun and friendly character embraced by athletes and spectators alike and a massive hit on Social Media. Everyone loved Ezomon - and Ezomon loved everyone back. For bringing joy to all at Sapporo 2017, Arigato, Ezomon-san! Ezomon is pictured at the Team Welcome Ceremony for Kyrgyzstan. Page 13

8th Asian Winter Games

FACTS AND FIGURES TELL SAPPORO SUCCESS STORY SAPPORO 2017

OCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIVE ZONES

Opening Ceremony: Sunday, February 19, at Sapporo Dome. Opened by: His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. Closing Ceremony: Sunday, February 26, at Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink. Closed by: OCA Vice President Timothy Fok. NOCs: 32 Athletes: 1,152 Officials: 635 Total: 1,787 Sports: 5 Disciplines: 11 Events: 64 Competition Venues in Sapporo: 11 Competition Venues in Obihiro: 1 Total Attendance: 79,828 Volunteers: 4,500 Media: 2,100 Slogan: Beyond Your Ambitions Mascot: Ezomon

he first Asian Winter Games at Sapporo in 1986 attracted only seven teams. In 2017 there were 32 National Olympic Committees, including guest athletes from Australia and New Zealand. Here is the breakdown, zone by zone, of the Asian continent:

East Asia (8): Japan, China, DPR Korea, Hong Kong-China, Korea, Macau-China, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei. South East Asia (7): Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam. West Asia (5): Jordan, Independent Olympic Athletes (representing the suspended Kuwait Olympic Committee), Lebanon, Qatar, United Arab Emirates. Central Asia (6): Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Uzbekistan. South Asia (4): India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand.

TICKET SALES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EVENT BY EVENT, VENUE BY VENUE Opening Ceremony Alpine Skiing Cross-country Skiing Ski Jumping Ski Jumping Freestyle Skiing Snowboard Snowboard Speed Skating Short Track Speed Skating Figure Skating Ice Hockey Ice Hockey Ice Hockey Curling Biathlon Total:

at Sapporo Dome: 29,000 at Sapporo Teine (3 days): 2,113 at Shirahatayama Open Stadium (5 days): 1,037 at Miyanomori Ski Jump Stadium (1 day): 101 at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium (2 days): 1,954 at Sapporo Bankei Ski Area (2 days): 800 at Sapporo Bankei Ski Area (1 day): 572 at Sapporo Teine (2 days): 1,532 at Obihiro Forest Speed Skating Oval (4 days): 10,469 at Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink (3 days): 3,321 at Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink (4 days*): 11,398 at Tsukisamu Gymnasium (8 days): 8,868 at Mikaho Gymnasium (5 days): 2,738 at Hoshioki Ice Skating Rink (7 days): 3,535 at Sapporo Curling Stadium (7 days): 1,432 at Nishioka Biathlon Stadium (4 days): 958 79,828

*Tickets for the fourth and final day of Figure Skating at Makomanai on February 26 included access to the Closing Ceremony. Page 14

8th Asian Winter Games

ASIA’S WINTER SPORTS SUPER POWERS WARM UP FOR PYEONGCHANG 2018

he 8th Asian Winter Games provided world-class levels of competition on the ice and snow thanks to the presence of Kazakhstan, China and Korea alongside the host nation at Sapporo and Obihiro.

FINAL MEDAL TABLE

With the next Winter Olympics just one year away, the athletes had the perfect stage to gauge their level of performance ahead of PyeongChang 2018.

Ra nk 1

Japan

As expected, Japan came out on top, winning 27 of the 64 gold medals available. With 21 silver and 26 bronze, their total medal haul of 74 was four more than Kazakhstan’s overall tally when they hosted the seventh edition in 2011.

Korea

China

Kazakhstan

DPR Korea

192

Korea finished second with 16 gold, 18 silver and 16 bronze for a total of 50, while China was third with 12-14-9-35 and Kazakhstan fourth on 9-11-12-32. DPR Korea was the only other team to win a medal – a bronze in pairs figure skating.

NOC

Total

HERE’S WHERE THE TEAMS WERE STRONGEST: Japan (27 gold): Speed skating (7 gold medals) and cross-county skiing (7) provided rich pickings for the host nation, while alpine skiing, ski jumping and freestyle skiing all produced three gold medals. The rest came in snowboard, figure skating, biathlon and ice hockey (1 gold each). Korea (16 gold): The Koreans love the ice, with six gold medals from speed skating at Obihiro and five from short track. They also won two gold medals in snowboard and one each in alpine, cross-country and figure skating.

Korea's Lee Sang-ho won two gold medals in the men's snowboard slalom and giant slalom.

China (12 gold): Snowboard and short track both produced three gold medals, while figure skating and curling yielded two each. The other two gold medals came in cross-country and speed skating. Kazakhstan (9 gold): The Kazakhs dominated biathlon with six gold medals, and there was one apiece in crosscountry skiing, freestyle skiing and ice hockey (men).

China's women's curling team on their way to gold. Page 15

8th Asian Winter Games

FIVE SPORTS, 11 DISCIPLINES, 64 EVENTS - WHO Alpine Skiing Emi Hasegawa of Japan won both women’s events, the slalom and giant slalom, while Korea’s Jung Dong-hyun took the men’s slalom and Japan’s Yohei Koyama won the men’s giant slalom. Three out of four gold medals for Japan at Sapporo Teine.

Cross-Country Skiing Ten gold medals were up for grabs at Shirahatayama Open Stadium. Japan won three of the five men’s events, with individual gold for Akira Lenting in the 10km Classical and 30km Free Mass Start and a team gold in the 4x7.5km relay. Rinat Mukhin of Kazakhstan took the men’s 15km Free and Korea’s Magnus Kim the 1.4km Sprint Classical.

Freestyle Skiing Japan won three of the four gold medals – a double for Ikuma Horishima in the men’s moguls and dual moguls and gold for Arisa Murata in the women’s moguls. Kazakhstan’s Yuliya Galysheva prevented a Japanese grand slam by winning the women’s dual moguls.

Ice Hockey Kazakhstan won the four-team round-robin men’s Top Division with an aggregate score of 19-0. Korea took silver and Japan bronze. In the six-team women's event, PyeongChang 2018-bound Japan claimed gold ahead of China and Kazakhstan.

In the women’s events, Japan’s Yuki Kobayashi won four gold medals – 5km Classical, 10km Free, 4x5km relay and 15km Free Mass Start. China’s Man Dandan broke the Japanese stranglehold on the women’s cross-country by taking the 1.4km Sprint Classical.

Ski Jumping Japan went 3-for-3 in men’s jumping with victory for Yukiya Sato in the normal hill individual at Miyanomori and for Naoki Nakamura in the large hill individual at Okurayama. Japan cleaned up by taking the large hill team gold.

Speed Skating Korean ace Lee Seung-hoon won four gold medals in the seven men’s events – 5,000m, 10,000m, Team Pursuit and Mass Start. The other three men’s gold medals went to Japan’s Takuro Oda in the 1,000m, Kim Min-seok of Korea in the 1,500m and to Gao Tingyu of China in the 500m. Japan dominated the women’s events, winning six of seven races in front of a noisy crowd at Obihiro. Nao Kodaira took gold in the 1,000m and 500m, while Miho Takagi notched an individual golden hat-trick in the 1,500m, 3,000m and Mass Start. Japan also won the Team Pursuit. Korea’s Kim Bo-Reum stopped the Japanese gold rush in the 5,000m. Page 16

Japan’s Shoma Uno won the last gold medal of the Games.

8th Asian Winter Games

ON WHAT IN THE RUSH FOR HOKKAIDO GOLD Short Track Speed Skating Korea and China revved up for the 2018 Winter Olympics by winning all eight events between them.

Biathlon With seven events, including a mixed relay, Kazakhstan showed their stamina and shooting accuracy under pressure to win six gold medals.

Korea picked up five gold medals - Seo Yira in the men’s 1,000m, Park Se-yeong in the men’s 1,500m, Shim Suk-hee in the women’s 1,000m, Choi Min-jeung in the women’s 1,500m and the women’s 3,000m relay.

In the men’s races, Yan Savitskiy won the 10km Sprint and 15km Mass Start, but he had to settle for silver in the 12.5km Pursuit behind Japan’s Mikito Tachizaki.

China took home three gold – Wu Dajing in the men’s 500m, the men’s 5,000m relay and Zang Yize in the women’s 500m.

Galina Vishnevskaya cleaned up in the women’s events, sweeping the 7.5km Sprint, 10km Pursuit and 12.5km Mass Start.

Figure Skating

Savitskiy and Vishnevskaya were also members of the 2 x 6km women and 2 x 7.5km men mixed relay team that won gold.

Fresh from his bronze medal at the ISU Four Continents Championships the previous week, Shoma Uno skated to gold for Japan in the men’s event. Korea’s Choi Dabin won the women’s crown. China won both the mixed events, with gold for Yu Xiaoyu/Zhang Hao in the Pairs and Wang Shiyue/Liu Xinyu in the Ice Dance.

Curling China swept the men’s and women’s titles. Japan and Korea took silver and bronze, respectively, in the men’s competition, while Korea and Japan filled the podium in the women’s event.

Snowboard Korea’s Lee Sang-ho claimed both the men’s slalom and giant slalom and China’s Zhang Yiwei took the men’s halfpipe. China won two more gold medals in the women’s events, for Zang Ruxin in the slalom and Liu Jiayu in the halfpipe. Japan’s solitary gold in six events came from Eri Yanetani in the giant slalom.

Korea’s Choi Dabin on her way to gold in ladies’ figure skating. Page 17

8th Asian Winter Games

CELEBRATING ASIA’S WINTER SP Lee Seung-Hoon of Korea was the outstanding individual in men’s speed skating, winning gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m, Mass Start and Team Pursuit.

Japan's Emi Hasegawa dominated the women's alpine skiing, winning both the slalom and giant slalom.

Page 18

8th Asian Winter Games

ORTS STARS OF SAPPORO 2017 Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wu Dajing speeds to the gold medal in the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 500m short track.

Kazakhstan's Yan Savitskiy took home three gold medals and one silver in biathlon, winning the men's 10km Sprint, 15km Mass Start and Mixed Relay and finishing second in the 12.5km Pursuit to Japan's Mikito Tachizaki.

Page 19

8th Asian Winter Games

SHEIKH AHMAD

No one will forget the 8th Asian Winter Games

in a hurry – especially the OCA President.

Sheikh Ahmad cuts the ribbon to open the IOC-recognised Sapporo Winter Sports Museum at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium.

In a packed schedule, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah enjoyed afternoon tea with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, joined in a traditional “good luck” ceremony for the success of the Games and also took part in the official opening of the Sapporo Winter Sports Museum since it gained IOC recognition. Then there were his various speeches and addresses, notably at the Sapporo Dome for the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, February 19, and his OCA Press Conference at the Main Media Centre two days later.

Sheikh Ahmad greets Macau sports officials.

The OCA was truly honoured to welcome HIH the

Sheikh Ahmad addresses the OCA press conference at the Main Media Centre on Tuesday, February 21.

The OCA President prepares to address the welcome reception on February 18. Page 20

Sheikh Ahmad takes part in the traditional “kagami

8th Asian Winter Games

IN SAPPORO Crown Prince to both the opening and closing ceremonies, displaying the support and enthusiasm of the entire nation for the 8th Asian Winter Games. Following the Opening Ceremony, the Japanese Olympic Committee held their official reception back at the Sapporo Grand Hotel, and Sheikh Ahmad was one of several dignitaries called to the stage to take part in a ritual “kagami biraki” – meaning “opening the mirror to the future”.

United: Sheikh Ahmad with OCA Hon. Life Vice President Wei Jizhong and SAWGOC Director General Hiroshi Abe.

The dignitaries were each handed a mallet with which to break open the lid of a cask of sake, which was then distributed to the guests to toast the success of the Games. Kampai!

Sheikh Ahmad looks around the museum, alongside JOC President Mr Tsunekazu Takeda.

Sheikh Ahmad entertains Koreans Moon Dae Sung (left) and IOC Member Ryu Seung Min.

biraki” ceremony at the JOC reception on February 19.

Sheikh Ahmad with IOC Member Chang Ung of DPR Korea. Page 21

8th Asian Winter Games

SAPPORO VILLAGE MAYOR HOPES TO

apporo 2017 Village Mayor Emi Watanabe hopes her own inspiring story can create a new generation of winter sports athletes in Asia, particularly in her beloved figure skating. In her address to athletes at the Team Welcome Ceremony, Watanabe told of how the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics sparked a burning ambition inside her – to be an Olympian for Japan. She was only 12 years old at the time and watched the Sapporo Games on TV, but it was enough to change her life for ever. “That is when my dream started - to be an Olympian,” she recalled. In a trail-blazing career for figure skating in Japan, Emi won the national championship eight times and competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.

India - Aldrin Mathew and Anup Yama, Ice Dance: “It was wonderful, incredible. This was the biggest platform to showcase our Indian Romeo and Juliet – with a bit of Bollywood.” Page 22

The highlight of her career, however, was a bronze medal in the world championships in Vienna, Austria, in 1979 – the first Japanese female figure skater to win a medal at this level. The sport has changed a lot since then, and Japan’s top skaters these days are household names, well funded, well managed and with a nationwide fan base. Another thing that has changed is the number of Asian figure skaters taking to the ice, as Emi witnessed at the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink. “When I was competing there was no one at that time from Asia – not even China,” she says. “Now we have competitors from countries with their own ice rinks, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. “They have a figure skating programme so they can join the Asian Winter Games – and next time try to go to the other level.

Kyrgyzstan - Aleksandra Nesterova: “It was fantastic when I came out to see so many people. Oh, I am lost in space!”

8th Asian Winter Games

INSPIRE NEW GENERATION OF OLYMPIANS “In 10 years you never know, Malaysia could be world champion. It is changing drastically.” *Below, check out some of the new faces who brought so much variety to the figure skating at Sapporo 2017.

Indonesia - Tasya Putri: “Hopefully, with figure skating in the SEA Games in Malaysia this year, more people will become interested and there will be more athletes. I dream to be an Olympian – and my dream starts from now.”

Sapporo Village Mayor Emi Watanabe presents a welcome gift of 1,000 paper cranes to a member of the Kyrgyzstan delegation at the Team Welcome Ceremony.

United Arab Emirates - Zahra Lari: “It was just a hobby, but I am proud of what I have accomplished so far. I have a long journey ahead of me. I love it, but it is really cold!” Page 23

8th Asian Winter Games IT’S “SNOW” JOKE: MALAYSIA MAKES DEBUT IN ALPINE SKIING

n idea that started out as a family joke became a reality at Sapporo 2017 for one of Asia’s newest and most unlikely ski teams.

Webb, 18, was born in Kuala Lumpur to a Malaysian mother and American father. He lives and trains in Washington State but spends three months of the year in Malaysia.

For the first time, the tropical Southeast Asian country of Malaysia competed in alpine skiing, represented by two young men who ended up sharing the same ambitious dream.

“It’s pretty neat that a small country like Malaysia can compete against these bigger countries,” Webb said. “This has been a great experience.”

Othman Mirzan, the grandson of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, came up with the idea of starting a Malaysian Ski Federation. After getting it up and running, Jeffrey Webb, a Malaysian-born teenager based in the United States, got wind of it and joined the team. The pair both made their debuts at the 8th Asian Winter Games, with Othman finishing 24th in the men’s giant slalom and Webb placing 14th. Mirzan, 22, first thought about starting the federation when he was 17 after falling in love with skiing during family holidays. “It started as a joke. My siblings and I all skied together and the running joke was always that we were the Malaysian ski team because we’re the only Malaysians people see skiing,” he said. “From that, the idea kind of grew.”

Malaysia’s alpine ski pioneers.

ALL ABOARD THE WINTER GAMES FOR SRI LANKAN TEENAGER

Sri Lankan teenager created her own little slice of history when she overcame the odds to participate in snowboarding at the 8th Asian Winter Games. Despite coming from an island country with no snow or success in winter sports, 16-year-old high school student Azquiya Usuph became the first Sri Lankan female to compete at the Winter Asiad.

Vastly inexperienced compared to her seasoned rivals, she had no realistic ambitions of winning a medal in the women’s giant slalom but her goal was to make it down the mountain safely and try to inspire other Sri Lankans to take up winter sports with Asia set to stage the next two Winter Olympics. “I’m very proud to be the first Sri Lankan female to go to the Asian Winter Games,” she said. “My goal was just to make it to the finish and I did that. “It was a bit scary and I fell over a few times and I missed one of the gates but it was also the opportunity of a lifetime and I am very happy.” Usuph, a talented swimmer, was given the chance to compete in Sapporo as part of Sri Lanka’s push to promote winter sports, combining with the South Korean Dream programme - an initiative to encourage countries with little winter sports tradition to participate on snow and ice.

Pride of Sri Lanka: Azquiya Usuph. Page 24

She picked it up very quickly so was offered a rare opportunity to compete in Sapporo against some of the world’s best athletes on a difficult mountain course designed for elite snowboarders.

8th Asian Winter Games VERSATILE VARSHA IS A SKATER FOR ALL SEASONS

rom roller skates to ice skates, Doctor Varsha S. Puranik gives it her all for India no matter the competition, no matter the sport. The 29-year-old microbiologist from Karnataka in south-west India represented her country in roller skating at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and made her Winter Games debut at Sapporo 2017 in short track speed skating.

In her heat of the women’s 1,500 metres containing Chinese ace Fan Kexin and Korean world record-holder Choi Min-jeong, it was not surprising that Varsha missed out on a place in the semi-finals. But the experience added to her rich sporting story, as she took up roller skating at the age of three and doubled up in ice skating in 2005. Talking about the similarities of the two disciplines, Varsha said: “Both sports need perseverance and you cannot lose patience. You must do the hard work and be honest in what you do, and believe in your coach.” Looking back on her performance in the heat, Varsha commented: “I feel I did my best but I could still do better. “It is an honour for me to run with a world champion and we should take the good things from the athletes around us and try to be as good as them in the little opportunities we get.”

Varsha is pictured at the Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink.

Watch out for Varsha at the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia – back on the roller skates for India.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE JAPANESE WAY

ife in Japan was a real eye-opener for many of the first-time visitors to the country for the 8th Asian Winter Games; none moreso than Mariya Sizova, a 21-year-old member of the Kazakhstan women’s speed skating team. “This is my first Asian Winter Games and my first visit to Japan,” she said. “I like it. It is a good experience for me. “I like this country,” she adds. “I was thinking it would be like an Asian country but I didn't think the people here would be so friendly.

Mariya, whose hometown is Chromtay, took up speed skating at the age of 10. She will finish her studies this year and will try to qualify for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. “I have been training hard this year because of the Winter Universide and the Asian Winter Games, and I have not been home since January 1. I miss my mom and I miss my cat,” she says. It seems like she will miss Japan, too.

“Everything here is small, little and cute. The old people are so cute and kind because they say ‘hello’ and wave their hands. In Kazakhstan it is not like this. I think they are angry. It is not normal to see this kind of behaviour in Kazakhstan.” Mariya, who competed in the Winter Universiade in Almaty before travelling to Japan, says she has enjoyed the weather – nowhere near as severe as her home country Kazakhstan – the natural beauty of Hokkaido and also the skating rink at Obihiro. “Everything is simple,” she adds. “It is very comfortable for the athletes. The opening ceremony was cool but unfortunately I could not go because it was so many kilometres away and I was racing the next day.”

Mariya Sizova watches the speed skating at Obihirio. Page 25

Postcards from Sapporo

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Bright lights outside Sapporo Station.

The miniature garden outside the Japanese restaurant in the Sapporo Grand Hotel.

The train to Obihiro.

Glorious Sapporo in the snow.

Women in Sport

CAMBODIA’S ‘ANIME’ STAR: The IOC’s new Olympic Channel features a 30-minute animated documentary on the Kingdom’s taekwondo queen, Incheon Asian Games champion Sorn Seavmey. Her story has become a national source of pride and is changing the perception of sport and women in Cambodia.

OLYMPIC SWIMMER CHANGES LANES: Looking after elite athletes once their competitive career is over has become a key focus of the Olympic Movement in recent years. Thanks to the Japanese Olympic Committee's "Athnavi NEXT" programme, retired Olympic freestyle swimmer Misaki Yamaguchi, 27, has joined Hoshino Resorts, which has a history of over 100 years as a leading ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), onsen (hot springs) resort and hotel operator in Japan.

MALAYSIA’S STYLISH ROLE MODEL: Eight-time world squash champion Nicol David lights up a Louis Vuitton/UNICEF campaign to raise funds for needy children around the world. The six-time Asian Games gold medal-winner (four individual, two team) is a UN Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador.

JORDAN’S GYM AMBASSADOR: Jordan’s ju jitsu world champion Lama Qubbaj has been recognised for her achievements at Asian and global levels by being named Brand Ambassador for the Secret Gym in her home country. Lama won two gold medals at the 5th Asian Beach Games in Vietnam last year. Page 27

Games Update: AIMAG 5

ASHGABAT 2017 LAUNCHES BRAND, MASCOT

ith the 8th Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan, already in the history books, attention now turns to the OCA’s second major event of the year: the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

The complex incorporates over 30 different sites, including competition venues and the Athletes’ Village, which will accommodate around 5,000 athletes and 2,500 team officials from the 62 NOCs.

Due to take place from September 17-27, AIMAG 5 will create another bit of OCA history by involving 17 NOCs from Oceania alongside the 45 NOCs affiliated to the OCA.

The focal point of the complex is the 45,000-capacity Main Stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of AIMAG 5; other world-class venues include an indoor athletics arena, velodrome and indoor aquatics complex.

It will also mark the first hosting of an international multi-sport event in Turkmenistan, and give the athletes, officials and visitors the chance to see the magnificent new Ashgabat Olympic Complex.

In recent weeks, the organising committee has unveiled both the brand and the mascot – two crucial aspects in the marketing and promotion of the event.

BRAND As part of the Silk Road, the region around Ashgabat has been welcoming travellers from Asia for over 2,000 years – and the Ashgabat 2017 brand will reflect this rich and historic culture. The Ashgabat 2017 brand follows a story of travelling caravans heading through Turkmenistan along the Silk Road over the centuries. The journey will reflect the traditional heritage of Turkmen culture with a use of modern design techniques to represent Ashgabat as an advanced and modern city.

MASCOT The Ashgabat 2017 mascot is called Wepaly - meaning “loyal friend” in Turkmen. Wepaly will be brought to life through an animation, marketing campaign and merchandise to promote sport and create an exciting atmosphere in the lead up to AIMAG 5. Wepaly is an Alabai, a traditional Turkmen dog. The Alabai is

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renowned as a beautiful and courageous animal that for many centuries has helped Turkmen shepherds to safeguard flocks of cattle in heavy conditions of sandy desert. The story of Wepaly revolves around his friendship with Meret, a young Turkmen boy who, with the support of his beloved dog, pursues his dream of becoming an athlete.

Games Update: AIMAG 5

NOC DELEGATES ATTEND ASHGABAT OPEN DAY

epresentatives of five NOCs visited the Ashgabat Olympic Complex on Tuesday, January 31 – the first Open Day. The delegates from Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, China, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan were shown around the Ashgabat city sights and the newly-built facilities.

Here is some of the feedback: Chinese Taipei: Wang Lee Yuh Fang, NOC Deputy Secretary General: “The Athletes’ Village is like an athlete’s dream come true. It is evident that a lot of thought has been put into the design of the apartments and recreational facilities. The fact that the Village is within walking distance of the Ashgabat Olympic Complex is also a big advantage.” Saudi Arabia: Bassam Al Oubari, Sports Mission Specialist: “I am very impressed by the level of readiness of the venues. It seems as if the entire Ashgabat Olympic Complex is ready and waiting for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to begin. Our athletes will be happy to know that they will be competing in the very best venues in September.”

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Dates: September 17 – 27 Competition Days: 12 Sports (21): Chess, Futsal, Tennis, Muay, Sambo, Kurash, Ju-Jitsu, Bowling, Cycling-Track, Short Course Swimming, Basketball 3x3, Weightlifting, Indoor Athletics, Taekwondo, Dance Sports, Kickboxing, Belt Wrestling, Wrestling, Billiard Sports, Equestrian (Jumping), Traditional Wrestling. Venues: 15 NOCs: 62 – 45 from OCA, 17 from Oceania Athletes: 5,000 Officials: 2,500 Volunteers: 8,000 Slogan: Health. Inspiration. Friendship.

The Ashgabat Olympic Complex.

Kazakhstan: Bakhytzhan Ordabayev, NOC President Advisor: “Throughout the day we have heard presentations from many people from the Executive Committee. Everyone we have met seems to be working hard to ensure a high level of service in each of their areas – we are confident that Ashgabat 2017 is on track to deliver great Games.”

SINGAPORE SPECIALISTS TO PRODUCE 2,000 AIMAG MEDALS

he production of the medals for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games is in safe hands with the appointment of ELM (Eng Leong Medallic Industries Pte. Ltd) of Singapore. The manufacturing company boasts an extensive international portfolio which includes the 2015 South East Asian Games, Youth Olympic Games, Invictus Games, FIFA competitions, the European Gymnastics Championships and the Asian Winter Games.

A total of 2,000 medals will be produced for the Games, weighing all together 721 kilograms, and each medal will be uniquely crafted in a process that from raw materials to packaging will take six hours.

The gold, silver and bronze medals will be the ultimate goal for all athletes competing at the Games and will export a lasting legacy of the event’s hospitality received in true Turkmen style. Shaped in the form of an eight-pointed star, the medal represents the most characteristic Turkmen symbol, and emblem of the country, the Oguz Khan Star.

The medals for Ashgabat 2017. Page 29

Games Update

ASIAN GAMES 2018 PREPARATIONS ‘ON TRACK’

ndonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Mrs Puan Maharani, addressed the 5th OCA Coordination Committee meeting at the Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, on Wednesday, December 14.

government, city government and provincial governments showed the determination of Indonesia to make the Asian Games a success for the country.

Mrs Maharani told the committee that the preparations for the OCA’s 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in AugustSeptember 2018 were on track, and she thanked the OCA for all their cooperation and guidance. She explained that the renovation of venues at the main sports hub of the 18th Asiad – the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in downtown Senayan – would be completed by October 2017, and all work at the co-host city of Palembang, capital of South Sumatra, would be finished by the end of 2017. “The government is prepared and already is doing everything on track,” said the Minister. “The government, the Indonesian Olympic Committee, the organising committee INASGOC and the people of Indonesia are working together for the success of the Asian Games.” The meeting was opened by the President of the Indonesian Olympic Committee and Chairman of INASGOC, Mr Erick Thohir. He said that “significant progress” had been made since the 4th OCA Coordination Committee meeting in May, and the presence of ministers and representatives from the central

OCA CC member and protocol expert Abdulla Almulla on the venue tour. Summing up the meeting at a press conference, OCA CC Chairman Mr Tsunekazu Takeda said: “We are very happy with the progress since the last Coordination Committee meeting, especially the sports venues and also the Athletes’ Village. It is going smoothly and should be completed before the test events in October and November 2017.” A venue tour of the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex, Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran, equestrian centre and velodrome followed the meeting. There will be four venue clusters for the 18th Asian Games, which will run from August 18-September 2, 2018: GBK, Jakarta, Jakarta Suburbs and Jakabaring Sports City at Palembang, where 10 sports will be staged.

Renovation continues at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium. Page 30

NOC Elections

UZBEKISTAN NOC ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

UAE NOC RE-ELECTS HH SHEIKH AHMED

he NOC of the Republic of Uzbekistan has a new President – Mr Alisher Sultanov. The previous President, Mr Mirabror Usmanov, was elected Honorary President. Mr Oybek Kasimov was re-elected Secretary-General for a new Olympic cycle.

he General Assembly of the United Arab Emirates NOC has unanimously re-elected His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as President for a new term, 2017-2020. HH Sheikh Ahmed commented: “The NOC has made a quantum leap over the past four years highlighted by a series of distinguished initiatives. This is due to the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “It is also attributed to the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council, Rulers of the Emirates and Their Highnesses Crown Princes.”

In a circular to the Olympic Movement dated January 9, 2017, the NOC reported that the elective General Assembly was held in Tashkent on January 6 and the following Executive Board was elected: President, Alisher Sultanov; Secretary-General, Oybek Kasimov; Vice Presidents (4), Farkhod Turdiev, Umid Akmedjanov, Salim Abduvaliev, Valeriy Tyan; EB Members (3), Igor Shepelev, Erkin Iskandarov, Shakhrullo Makhmudov. Mr Sultanov is Chairman of the Executive Board of the National Holding Company Uzbekneftegaz.

His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al Owais retained his position as Chairman of the Executive Office, while Advisor Mohammed Al Kamali continues as Secretary General.

DPR Korea

China

Tajikistan

The NOC of DPR Korea has a new President following an Extraordinary Session on January 23 – the former Executive Vice President Kim Il Guk.

A former Vice Mayor of Beijing Municipality, Gou Zhongwen, succeeded Liu Peng as President of the Chinese Olympic Committee on Wednesday, December 28.

The NOC of the Republic of Tajikistan held its elective General Assembly on January 26 in Dushanbe. HE Emomali Rahmon was re-elected President of the NOC. The two Vice Presidents are Ahtam Abdullozoda and Shamsullo Sohibov.

The previous NOC President, Ri Jong Mu, “became unable to fulfill his important responsibility due to his protracted illness”, the DPRK NOC Vice President and Secretary General, Son Kwang Ho, said in a letter to the OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah.

Gou had already taken over from Liu as Director of the government’s sports ministry, known as the General Administration of Sport in China (GASC), in October. Liu Peng, who had been COC President since 2005, was named Honorary President.

The Secretary General is Muhamadsho Abdulloev, and there are eight Executive Board members from the National Federations of athletics, boxing, canoeing, football, judo and taekwondo, plus the National Olympians Association and the National Winter Sports Association. Page 31

Asia’s Olympic Era 2018 - 2020 - 2022 ... Asia’s Olympic Era

WINTER CELEBRATIONS – GANGNEUNG STYLE!

inter Olympics fever arrived in the icy cold of Gangneung on Thursday, February 9 – exactly one year before the opening ceremony of PyeongChang 2018. The space-age Gangneung Hockey Centre in the shiny new Gangneung Olympic Park hosted a day of events and activities that brought the next Winter Olympics firmly into view and set the scene for the Korean hospitality and culture to come.

“In addition, construction of the venues is nearly finished, and we have achieved 89.5 per cent of our 90 per cent sponsorship goal. “The remaining challenge will be to provide a language barrier-free Olympic Games.” The press conference included the first appearance of the Olympic Torch that will be used for the torch relay, as well as the uniform to be worn by the 7,500 torchbearers. For more details, see: www.olympic.org. There will be seven sports, 15 disciplines and 102 events on the PyeongChang 2018 programme from February 9-25. The 10 snow disciplines will be at PyeongChang Alpensia Resort and the five ice disciplines in Gangneung, 50km away.

The Olympic Torch and uniform for the torchbearers.

A total of 1.07 million tickets went on sale on February 9 in three phases. The expected ticket revenue is 175 billion Korean Won (150 million USD).

At an afternoon press conference, Organising Committee President Lee Hee-beom said PyeongChang 2018 would signal the start of the “Asian Olympic Boom” with Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 to follow.

Seventy per cent of tickets will be sold in Korea, and 30 per cent overseas.

“With PyeongChang, Tokyo and Beijing hosting the next three Olympic Games in North East Asia, we can see that the era of Asia in sports is taking place,” he said. “We have added six new events to PyeongChang 2018 so it will be the biggest Winter Olympics in history with 102 gold medals and with the largest number of athletes participating.

COUNTING DOWN: The Omega countdown clock was unveiled at a ceremony in the City Hall Plaza, Seoul, on the evening of Wednesday, February 8, ahead of the G-1 (Games minus one year) celebrations the following day. Photo: PyeongChang 2018.

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The average ticket price is 140,000 Korean Won (120 USD). A one-year-to-go ceremony and cultural performance rounded off the landmark day, with retired figure skating queen Kim Yu-na lighting up the evening as a Games Ambassador.

a 2018 - 2020 - 2022 ... Asia’s Olympic Era 2018 - 2020 - 2022

IOC APPROVES VENUES FOR NEW SPORTS

he IOC Executive Board has approved the venues for the five new sports at Tokyo 2020: Baseball/Softball, Karate, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing.

Skateboarding and Sport Climbing: Will take place in the temporary facility of Aomi Urban Sports Venue, with a spectacular backdrop of Tokyo Bay.

Baseball/Softball: The main venue will be the Yokohama Stadium. Built in 1978 inside Yokohama Park, with an artificial turf surface, it has become one of Japan's favourite baseball stadiums.

Surfing: Will be held at the popular Tsurigasaki Beach, located at the southern end of the Kujukuri (literally “endless”) Beach in Chiba prefecture, which stretches about 60km along Japan's Pacific coast.

Karate: Will be held in Japan's mecca for martial arts, the Nippon Budokan. It is already hosting Judo in 2020 and is a legacy of the Tokyo 1964 Games.

Note: The Tokyo 2020 Games will utilise a total of 39 venues eight new permanent venues, 22 existing sites and nine temporary venues, most of which are located in two zones of the city.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Tokyo 2020 concluded its first three-day NOC Open Day on February 7, hosting 32 delegates from 13 NOCs: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands and New Zealand.

CHINA’S HEAD OF STATE MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO IOC

istory was made when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the IOC in Lausanne over two days on January 17-18.

President Xi expressed his personal commitment to make these Games a success.

It was the first visit by a Chinese Head of State to the IOC, and signalled the cooperation and teamwork that lies ahead as Beijing prepares to host the Olympic Winter Games in 2022.

Sitting at the original desk belonging to the founder of the Olympic Movement, Pierre de Coubertin, President Xi signed the IOC’s visitors’ book to commemorate his historic visit to the Olympic capital. IOC Honorary President Jacques Rogge, IOC Vice President Yu Zaiqing, IOC Members from China Li Lingwei and Yang Yang, as well as IOC Member and OCA and ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, joined President Bach to welcome the Chinese Head of State.

President Xi Jinping is shown around the Olympic Museum by IOC President Thomas Bach. Photo: IOC

President Bach said: “This is a foundation to write history once more, with Beijing set to become the first city in the world to host both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games.” Page 33

Awards and Honours for Asia’s heroes

MONGOLIA NOC ANNOUNCES SPORTS STARS FOR 2016

ongolia NOC organised the annual “Burte Chono” Olympic Gala in Ulaanbaatar to recognise the outstanding athletes and coaches of 2016, in association with the Mongolian Sports Press Union.

players who had achieved outstanding results on the international stage in 2016. The list of athletes was led by DPRK’s two champions at Rio 2016: weightlifter Rim Jong Sim (women’s 75kg category) and gymnast Ri Se Gwang (men’s vault).

The male athlete of the year went to boxer Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai, who won lightweight (60kg) bronze at Rio 2016, and Dorjsuren Sumiya was named female athlete of the year for winning the silver medal in the -57kg judo at Rio.

United World Wrestling selected Kaori Icho’s fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016 in the women’s 58kg category as the most memorable moment of 2016. A bronze medal for India’s Sakshi Malik in the same category came in fifth place in the UWW list.

Rio 2016 Olympic champions Majlinda Kelmendi (Kosovo) and Shohei Ono (Japan) won the International Judo Federation Judoka of the Year Awards following a fan vote on the IJF Facebook page. Ono, a double world champion from Tenri University, received 2,166 votes for his victory in the -73kg category. Jordan’s Rio Olympics hero Ahmad Abughaush was named male athlete of the year at the World Taekwondo Federation’s 3rd Annual Gala Awards in Baku, Azerbaijan. Abughaush delivered his country’s first ever Olympic medal – and it was gold! The Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang, DPR Korea, announced the top 10 athletes, coaches and taekwondo

Rio Olympic champions Ma Long (table tennis) and Zhu Ting (volleyball) were voted best male and best female athlete of the year, respectively, at the China Central Television (CCTV) Sports Awards gala in Beijing. The best coach award went to volleyball legend Jenny Lang Ping, the first person to win the Olympic gold medal in the event both as coach and player. Qatar's most celebrated track and field athlete, Mutaz Essa Barshim, was named Athlete of the Year at the Esquire Man At His Best Awards 2016 ceremony in Dubai, UAE. Barshim was honoured by Esquire Middle East - the men’s lifestyle magazine for winning Qatar’s first ever silver medal at the Olympic Games when he finished second in the men’s high jump at Rio 2016.

Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim enjoys the Esquire awards in Dubai.

The sports awards gala in Mongolia. Page 34

Jordan’s Rio hero Ahmad Abughaush at the WTF awards in Baku.

Obituary SHUNICHIRO OKANO – JAPAN’S HONORARY IOC MEMBER

he OCA President, HE Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, paid a moving tribute to the long-serving Japanese IOC Member Mr Shunichiro Okano, who passed away on February 2. He was 85.

liked not only in Asia but throughout the world. He will be greatly missed by athletes, coaches, officials and sports leaders alike.” Mr Okano was President of the Japan Football Association from 1998-2002 and played a major role in the successful organisation and co-hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Korea.

“Mr Okano was a very popular and respected figure in the sports world, particularly in football and within the IOC,” said Sheikh Ahmad.

Mr Okano joined the IOC in 1990 and became Honorary Member in 2012 and dedicated his career to the promotion of sport and its values in Japan and Asia.

“He played an important role in the development of football in Japan from the 1960s onwards and helped to bring the game to its current level of popularity, from grassroots through to the national team. “He was also a very influential figure in the Olympic Movement in Japan. He was well known and well

Mr Shunichiro Okano. Photo: Japan Times.

He also played a key role at the Japanese Olympic Committee, where he was Secretary General (1977-1991) then member of the Executive Committee (19912017).

ROY DE SILVA – GUIDED OCA IN TIME OF CRISIS wealth Games Association of Sri Lanka from 1984 to 1997. He was also a former President of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation. Mr de Silva was a Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia and became Acting President during a time of crisis when Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990. The OCA President at the time, Sheikh Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, was killed by Iraqi forces on the first day of the invasion. “The Asian Games in Beijing were less than 40 days away and the OCA operated from Riyadh and London,” recalls the OCA Director General, Mr Husain Al Musallam.

Roy de Silva (third from left) with former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch. The President and Executive Board of the NOC of Sri Lanka announced on January 10 the sad passing of Mr Roy de Silva, who served as President of the NOC and the Common-

“Mr Roy de Silva stepped in as Acting President at a difficult time for the Asian Olympic Movement and he managed the success of the Games with the help of China and Saudi NOCs and government. “The OCA will always be indebted to Mr Roy de Silva and the NOC of Sri Lanka for the leading role he played in bringing Asia together at such a difficult time.” Page 35

OCA Sports Diary

2017 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: August 19 – 31 29th South East Asian (SEA) Games

Incheon, Korea: March 28 – 29 Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum for Central, South East and East Asian NOCs

PyeongChang, Korea: August 29 – 31 9th IOC Coordination Commission

Muscat, Oman: April 1 – 2 Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum for West and Central Asian NOCs

Lima, Peru: September 11 – 12 IOC Executive Board meeting

Aarhus, Denmark: April 2 – 7 SportAccord Convention

oo r & M a rti I nd a

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: April 5 – 6 Chefs de Mission Seminar for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017

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l oo r & M a rti I nd a

TURKMENISTAN

Lima, Peru: September 13 – 17 130th IOC Session

Awaza Touristic Zone, Caspian Sea: April 7 Opening Ceremony of Awaza Sport Complex and International Conference “Asiada 2017 - Innovative Technologies in the Sport” Madrid, Spain: April 9 ANOC Executive Council meeting

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: September 17-27 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: To be confirmed OCA Executive Board, OCA General Assembly Jakarta, Indonesia: Oct 23 – Nov 8 Asian Championship Test Event Series, 10 sports Prague, Czech Republic: Oct 31 – Nov 1 ANOC Commissions and Working Groups

Barcelona, Spain: April 11 Olympic Solidarity Commission

Prague, Czech Republic: November 1 ANOC Executive Council

Hong Kong, China: April 12 – 16 UCI Track World Championships

Prague, Czech Republic: November 2 – 3 22nd ANOC General Assembly

Dubai, UAE: May 3 – 5 Olympic Marketing Seminar for NOCs – Group 1

Lausanne, Switzerland: December 5 – 7 IOC Executive Board

Dubai, UAE: May 22 – 24 Olympic Marketing Seminar for NOCs – Group 2

2018

Lausanne, Switzerland: July 9 – 10 IOC Executive Board meeting

PyeongChang, Korea: February 9 – 25 Olympic Winter Games

Budapest, Hungary: July 14 – 30 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships

PyeongChang, Korea: March 9 – 18 Paralympic Winter Games

London, UK: August 4 – 13 16th IAAF World Championships in Athletics

Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia: Aug 18 – Sep 2 18th OCA Asian Games

Taipei City, Taiwan: August 19 – 30 29th Summer Universiade

Buenos Aires, Argentina: October 1 – 12 Youth Olympic Games