Asian Games
The 15th Asian Games (also known as the XV Asiad), is a multi-sport event
that will be held in Doha, Qatar from December 1, 2006 to December 15, 2006. The
games are participated by different countries located in Asia excluding
Israel.This event is going to one of the most widely broadcasted events all over
the world.
Doha became the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia since
Teheran in 1974 to host the games.
The Doha Asian Games Organising Committee chose "Orry", a Qatari Oryx, as the
official mascot of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006. The Oryx was once an
endangered species, but thanks to preservation and conservation groups it has
recently been reintroduced to the wild.
Participating Countries
Code Nation / IOC designation First use ISO-code Notes
AFG Afghanistan 1936 AFG
BAN Bangladesh 1984 BGD
BHU Bhutan 1984 BTN
BRN Bahrain 1984 BHR
BRU Brunei (IOC designation: Brunei Darussalam) 1988 BRN
CAM Cambodia 1956 KHM
CHN China (IOC designation: People's Republic of China) 1932 CHN Republic of
China as "China" 1932-1956
current usage began 1984
HKG Hong Kong, China 1952 HKG designated "Hong Kong" 1952-1996
current usage began 2000
IND India 1900 IND
INA Indonesia 1956 IDN IHO 1952
FIFA-code IDN
IRI Iran (IOC designation: Islamic Republic of Iran) 1948 IRN FIFA-code IRN
IRQ Iraq 1948 IRQ
JOR Jordan 1968 JOR
JPN Japan 1912 JPN
KAZ Kazakhstan 1996 KAZ part of RUS 1900-1912
part of URS 1924-1988
KGZ Kyrgyzstan 1996 KGZ part of RUS 1900-1912
part of URS 1924-1988
KOR Republic of Korea (IOC designation: Korea) 1948 KOR
KSA Saudi Arabia 1972 SAU
KUW Kuwait 1968 KWT
LAO Laos (IOC designation: Lao People's Democratic Republic) 1980 LAO
LIB Lebanon 1948 LBN
MAC Macao, China - MAC without IOC recognition
MAS Malaysia 1956 MYS
MDV Maldives 1988 MDV
MGL Mongolia 1964 MNG
MYA Myanmar 1996 MMR BIR 1948-1992
NEP Nepal 1964 NPL
OMA Oman 1984 OMN
PAK Pakistan 1948 PAK
PHI Philippines 1924 PHL
PLE Palestinian Authority (IOC designation: Palestine) 1996 PSE FIFA-code PAL
PRK Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1972 PRK
QAT Qatar 1984 QAT
SIN Singapore 1948 SGP
SRI Sri Lanka 1948 LKA
SYR Syria (IOC designation: Syrian Arab Republic) 1948 SYR
THA Thailand 1952 THA
TJK Tajikistan 1996 TJK part of RUS 1900-1912
part of URS 1924-1988
TKM Turkmenistan 1996 TKM part of RUS 1900-1912
part of URS 1924-1988
part of EUN 1992
TLS Timor-Leste 2004 TLS IOA 2000
TPE Chinese Taipei (Republic of China)
(IOC designation: Chinese Taipei) 1984 TWN as "China" CHN 1932-1956
as "Taiwan" TAI 1960-1964
as "Republic of China" ROC 1968-1972
current usage began 1984
UAE United Arab Emirates 1984 ARE
UZB Uzbekistan 1996 UZB part of RUS 1900-1912
part of URS 1924-1988
VIE Vietnam (IOC designation: Viet Nam) 1952 VNM
YEM Yemen 1992 YEM
History
The modern Asian Games began in 1951, but these international games have their
roots in the Far East Championships, a competition primarily between China,
Japan and the Philippines between 1913 and 1934.
11 nations and 489 athletes competed in the first games in 1951 in New Delhi.
The First Asian Games took place in New Delhi in 1951 and welcomed 11
countries participating in just 6 sports. Now, 55 years later, the 15th Asian
Games Doha 2006 is expecting 44 countries and regions who will participate in 39
competitive sports. The number of women athletes has been steadily rising over
the years and Qatar expects around 2000 female athletes in 2006.
The Asian Games have come a long way since 1951 to become the second largest
sports event in the world after the Olympic Games, comprising half the world's
population.
PREVIOUS GAMES
1951 New Delhi, India
1954 Manila, Philippines
1958 Tokyo, Japan
1962 Djakarta, Indonesia
1966 Bangkok, Thailand
1970 Bangkok, Thailand
1974 Tehran, Iran
1978 Bangkok, Thailand
1982 New Delhi, India
1986 Seoul, South Korea
1990 Beijing, China
1994 Hiroshima, Japan
1998 Bangkok, Thailand
2002 Busan, South Korea
NEW DELHI, 1951
• There were only 11 countries participating: Afghanistan, Burma, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand
• Six competitive sports were organised: athletics, aquatics, basketball,
cycling, football and weightlifting
• The top three winners were: Japan, India and Iran
MANILA, 1954
• A total of 970 athletes participated
• 19 National Olympic Committee's (NOC's) were involved
• Eight competitive sports were organised: athletics, basketball, boxing,
football, shooting, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling
• Sports dropped from Second Asian Games: cycling
• Sports added: boxing, shooting and wrestling
• The top three winners were: Japan, Philippines and Korea
TOKYO, 1958
• 20 NOC's were involved
• 1,422 athletes participated in the Games
• Sports added: tennis, volleyball, table tennis, hockey and cycling
• Demonstration Sports: badminton and judo
• The Torch Relay was performed for the first time
• A total of 13 sports and 97 events were organised
• The top three winners were: Japan, Philippines and China
Djakarta, 1962
• 15 sports and 88 events were organised
• 16 NOC's participated
• The top three winners were: Japan, India and Philippines
Bangkok, 1966
• 18 NOC's participated in the Games
• The top three winners were: Japan, Korea and Thailand
Bangkok, 1970
• The organising country changed from South Korea to Bangkok
• 18 NOC's participated in the Games
• 2,500 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 13 sports and 135 events
• Sport added: Sailing
• The top three winners were: Japan, Korea and Thailand
Tehran, 1974
• This was the first time the Games were held in the Eastern part of Asia
• Security was tight due to the impact of the assassination of Israeli athletes
during the 20th Olympics in Munich 1972
• Significant in that Iran allowed Israel to participate, and the 1974 Games
also saw the return and first participation of communist countries such as
China, Mongolia and DPR Korea
• 25 NOC's participated in the Games
• 3,010 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 16 sports and 182 events
• Sports added: fencing and gymnastics
• New and advanced sports facilities and equipment were used for the first time
in Asian Games history
• The top three winners were: Japan, China and Korea
Bangkok, 1978
• Was originally awarded to Islamabad, Pakistan but due to political and
financial issues the Games were shifted to Bangkok, Thailand
• This year saw the expulsion of Israel
• New affiliated NOC's: Syria, UAE, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
• 25 NOC's participated in the Games
• 3,842 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 19 sports and 201events
• Sports added: archery and bowling
• The top three winners were: Japan, China and Korea
New Delhi, 1982
• 33 countries participated in the Games, which was the largest number in Asian
Games history
• 4,595 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 21sports and 147 events
• Sports added: handball, equestrian, rowing and golf
• Sports dropped: fencing and bowling
• The top three winners were: China, Japan and Korea
Seoul, 1986
• 4,835 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 25 sports and 270 events
• Sports added: judo and taekwondo
• The importance of the Games attracted media attention
• New World and Asian records were set
• The top three winners were: China, Japan and Korea
Beijing, 1990
• Fifty days prior to the 11th Asian Games Iraq invaded Kuwait
• The assassination of Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah, the late president of the Olympic
Council of Asia, caused panic and pandemonium as important documents relating to
the Asian Games were lost
• The Olympic Council of Asia Headquarters were moved from Kuwait to the United
Kingdom
• The Iraqi NOC was suspended from the Olympic Council of Asia, but the 11th
Asian Games went on
• 37 NOC's participated
• 4,755 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 27 sports and 308 events
• Sports added: softball, sepak takraw, wushu, kabaddi and rowing
• Demonstration Sports: baseball and soft tennis
• New World and Asian records were set
• The top three winners were: China, Korea and Japan
Hiroshima, 1994
• For the first time the Asian Games were not held in a capital city
• 42 NOC's participated
• 6,828 athletes and officials were involved
• Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan participated for the first
time
• Cambodia returned after an absence of 20 years
• The top three winners were: China, Korea and Japan
Bangkok, 1998
• 42 NOC's participated
• 6,554 athletes and officials were involved
• There were 36 sports
• It was the first marketed Asian Games
• Sports added: rugby, billiards, snooker and squash
• Demonstration Sport: dance
• New world and Asian records were set
• The top three winners were: China, Korea and Japan
Busan, 2002
• Was the largest Asian Games
• 44 NOC's participated
• There were 38 sports and 420 events
• Afghanistan returned to the games and East Timor participated for the first
time
• The top three winners were: China, Korea and Japan
Doha, 2006
• Is expected to be the biggest Asian Games ever
• 44 NOC's will participate
• 39 sports will be organised
