Male, Maldives, February 2, 2023: Representatives of the Olympic Council of Asia and Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee held a press briefing on Thursday ahead of the Asian Games Fun Run scheduled to take place in Hulhumalé on Saturday, February 4.
The President of the Maldives Olympic Committee, Mr Mohamed Abdul Sattar, welcomed the delegation from OCA and HAGOC and thanked them for their continued support of the MOC, National Sports Associations and athletes and teams preparing for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games this September.
He also announced that the Maldives was proposing to compete in 11 different sports at the 19th Asian Games with more than 200 athletes.
The OCA was represented by Mr. Jeans Zhou Jian, Director of Media and Broadcast Department, and the HAGOC delegation comprised Ms. Song Jianbo, Director of Co-host cities Department, Ms. Xu Na, Deputy Chief of Co-host Cities Department, and Ms. Julie Zhu from the International Relations Department.
Addressing the media, Ms Song said the preparations for the Asian Games were in full swing; most of the work has been completed to a high standard, venue construction finished, preparations for the competition events essentially completed, the majority of staff required already on board and Games services set up and ready for operations.
She emphasized that the Asian Games Fun Run will help spread joy and hope across Asia, enhance friendship among people in different countries and regions around Asia and increase public interest in the Hangzhou Asian Games, which will run from September 23 to October 8.
“It gives us great pleasure to say that the Fun Run, the Asian Games Young Reporter programme, the Asian Games Children’s Art Competition, as well as other events, are being held in partnership with the OCA. Excitement for the upcoming Asian Games continues to build in China and Asia as a whole,” she said.
The Maldives leg of the Asian Games Fun Run will be held on the synthetic track at Hulhumalé on Saturday, February 4, starting at 6am. Around 700 participants from National Sports Associations, schools and local Chinese companies and the public are expected to participate in the event.
