ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan — Hindi pinayagan ng Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) ang kahilingan ng Australia at iba pang bansa sa Oceania na mapabilang at makalaro sa Asian Games.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa opening ceremony ng Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) nitong Linggo, sinabi ni OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah lubhang malaki na ang miyembro ng Asian Games at hindi na kakayanin pang magdagdag ng bagong miyembro.

Nauna rito, sinabi ni Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates na bukas siya sa posibilidad na makapagpadala ang Australia ng delegasyon sa 2022 Asian Games sa Hangzhou, China.

“Discussions are under way and I believe there would be great interest in the Asian Games amongst our member sports,” pahayag ni Coates. “Particularly in sports where the Asian countries are strong (such as) gymnastics, badminton and table tennis. I believe participating in the Asian Games would be very good for us.”

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Ngunit, iginiit ni Sheikh Ahmad na sa kabila nang pagtanggap ng OCA ng lahok para sa maliliit na torneo, hindi kakayanin ng Asian Games na magdagdag pa ng miyembro.

“With the Asian Games we are already at 15,000 athletes and officials, and we cannot add to that number,” aniya. “In the Beach Games and Indoor Games we can continue to have our coordination and cooperation, but for the Asian Games the number is very high and we cannot have an Olympic Village with more than 15,000 people. “

Binubuo ang Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games ng 65 bansa – kabilang ang 45 sa Asia, 19 sa Oceania, at African Refugee Team.