Seoul, Korea, May 10, 2023: The Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Husain Al Musallam, has warmly congratulated media across Asia for putting the Continent “at the forefront of world sport”.
In a message to the 24th AIPS Asia Congress in Seoul, Mr. Al Musallam toasted the region’s media for highlighting the two major Games which will be held this year in Asia – the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou and the 6th Asia Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi.
“The Olympic Council of Asia feels proud of these achievements, as can AIPS Asia, as it put the Asian Continent at the forefront of world sport and underlined Asia’s standing as a major player and partner in the global Olympic movement,” noted Mr. Al Musallam, who is also the President of World Aquatics.
“This is where the OCA and AIPS Asia can work together as partners to promote the Olympic sports movement, and most of all, our athletes,” he added.
The event was attended by Jeans Zhou Jian, Director of OCA Media & Broadcast Department, who briefed the member countries of AIPS Asia - International Sports Press Association Asia - extravaganza on Monday, May 8, in the Korean capital.
Jeans explained the decision behind postponing the Hangzhou Asian Games by one year due to COVID-19 pandemic – it will now be held from September 23 to October 8 – and noted that it was one of the toughest decisions taken by the OCA.
“This decision was led by OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam and supported by the entire OCA Executive Board Members as well as the Chinese Olympic Committee and Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee. It was a wise and correct decision OCA took in order to rescue and keep the Asian Olympic Movement together and moving forward,” Jeans said.
Jeans added: “The Olympic Council of Asia treasures the excellent work done by all Asian sports media. The OCA has set up a high standard of media service and has a portfolio of five major sports events – the Asian Games, the Asian Winter Games, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the Asian Beach Games and the Asian Youth Games.
“This is where the OCA and AIPS Asia can work together as partners to promote the Olympic sports movement, and most of all, our athletes.”
In conclusion Jeans said: “I would like to end my speech by referring to an excellent interview by AIPS Member Xinhua News Agency two days ago from Beijing and quoting IOC President Thomas Bach who said ‘I will be in Hangzhou for the Asian Games because the Asian Games have a very special place in the Olympic Movement and is a great tradition.”
