The 2030 Doha Asian Games are increasingly likely to be held in 2031, a year later than originally planned, in a bid to restore the event's diminished standing.
Ahmad Abdulla Al-Buainain, chief executive of the Doha Asian Games organizing committee, said the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia are discussing a proposal to stage the Doha Games in 2031. He spoke at a news conference in Nagoya, Japan, on the 1st.
The OCA is reviewing a plan to move the Asian Games from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years, reflecting a judgment that the event's standing has fallen sharply. China and Japan have recently sent second-tier squads in some sports, and public interest has been waning. With turnout and attention down, fewer cities are coming forward to host.
Holding the Asian Games in the odd-numbered year immediately before the Summer Olympics would allow the competition to double as an Olympic qualifier. With Olympic berths at stake, top athletes would be more likely to compete, lifting both the quality of the field and public interest.
Other continental multisport events have already moved in that direction. The Pan American Games, the European Games and the African Games are all held one year before the Olympics open.
The IOC has signaled support for the shift. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who recently visited the Asian Games in Nagoya, said continental sports bodies are being encouraged to hold their multisport events one year before the Olympics so they can serve as Olympic qualifiers, adding that she hopes the Asian Games will move in the same direction.
