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The wait for news on the Covid-stalled 19th Asian Games is over, with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announcing Tuesday that the continental sports competition will be held in autumn 2023.

The games, which were originally scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 10 to 25, 2022, will now take place from September 23 to October 8 next year. The Asian Games are the second largest sporting event after the summer Olympics.

In May, the governing council had decided to postpone the multi-sports event indefinitely as host China was battling a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. Subsequently, the OCA formed a task force to finalise new dates for the sporting contest.
 

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“The Task Force over the last two months held various discussions with the Chinese Olympic Committee, Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC) and other stakeholders to find a window for the Games which did not conflict with other major international sporting events,” the OCA said in a statement.

“The recommended dates by the Task Force were duly approved by the OCA Executive Board,” it said, thanking the Chinese organisers and the governments at all levels “for their hard work in preparing for the Games during the pandemic and ensuring they can take place next year.”

"The OCA would also like to express its appreciation for the patience shown by the National Olympic Committees and International Federation/Asian Federations and other stakeholders.”