Hangzhou, China, July 22, 2023: A record number of athletes is expected to take part in this year’s 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee HAGOC has revealed that the 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) affiliated to the Olympic Council of Asia have entered more than 12,500 athletes for the 19th Asiad, which will take place from September 23 to October 8.
The previous record was 11,300 for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia in 2018.
The third and final part of the Sports Entry process for the NOCs, Entry by Name, closed on Saturday, July 15, giving HAGOC firm figures on which to base their management and operations procedures.
“The Sports Entry for the Hangzhou Asian Games has now been completed, with Asia’s 45 NOCs entering more than 12,500 athletes. The number of participating athletes exceeds that at previous Asian Games,” HAGOC said in a statement.
There will be 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 483 events at the 19th Asian Games, with 54 competition venues in Hangzhou and five co-host cities in Zhejiang province.
Here are some key points from the Entry by Name final deadline:
*The team size of six NOC delegations, including China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, India and Hong Kong, China, surpasses 600 athletes.
*Athletics is the most popular sport with 43 NOCs entering teams.
*Eleven sports, including Boxing, Aquatics, Shooting, Weightlifting and E-sports, have attracted more than 30 NOCs.
*The sport with the largest number of athletes entered is Football.
*Eleven sports, including Athletics, Aquatics and Fencing, have more than 300 athletes registered.
The first Asian Games was held in New Delhi, India in 1951 when 11 countries and regions were represented by 489 athletes.
OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF ASIA