Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 2, 2022: The Olympic Council of Asia is ending 2022 with one eye on 2023 and the other on 2024.
The OCA is gathering 44 National Olympic Committees from the five zones of Asia in Riyadh for the Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum hosted by the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC).
The forum will run for four days from December 4-7, with delegates from NOCs in West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia meeting on Sunday and Monday, December 4-5, and delegates from Southeast Asia and East Asia meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 6-7.
There will also be an Asian Games Fun Run on Monday, December 5 to promote the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which will take place from September 23 to October 8, 2023.
The forum is being held at the Holiday Inn Izdihar and will include detailed progress reports from the hosts of the OCA’s two multi-sport games next year: the 19th Asian Games and the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi province, Thailand, from November 17-26, 2023.
There will also be an update on the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024, with the organising committee joining online and the Olympic Solidarity team from IOC HQ in Lausanne, Switzerland working on the ground to assist Asia’s NOCs with all their logistical, technical and administrative requirements.
The Director of the OCA’s Athlete Development Department and Special Projects, Tony Tarraf, said the four-day regional forum was the perfect platform to bring all eligible NOCs together to discuss these important topics.
“The Olympic movement in Asia is back on the move and the OCA has two major games coming up next year, as well as many other activities and events,” he said.
“Next year will also be a critical year in the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 and we will provide our NOCs with all the information they need as they prepare their athletes and delegations.
“We would like to thank the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee for hosting this very meaningful forum over four days, as well as the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity team and, of course, our National Olympic Committees for their enthusiasm and participation.”
Another key agenda item will be a joint presentation by the OCA and Olympic Solidarity on the Continental Development Programme, including budget, the upgraded application process and the programmes on offer to the NOCs.