Hangzhou, China, September 20, 2023: The Honorary Life Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr. Wei Jizhong, reaffirmed the structure of the Asian Games at the Chefs de Mission meeting in the Athletes’ Village on Tuesday, September 19.
Addressing delegates of the 45 National Olympic Committees, the Chinese sports administrator said the OCA was the host, the NOCs were the participants and HAGOC was the organizer.
“They are working together to guarantee a smooth Asian Games,” he said.
Mr. Wei reminded the delegates: “The NOC is responsible for all their delegation, including the behaviour of any member of your delegation. This should be very, very clear. You are responsible.
“Together we will create a harmonious atmosphere for the Asian Games.”
On the subject of transportation, the OCA Life Vice President said that HAGOC had prepared some police escort teams to take athletes to the competition venues just in case there were traffic issues in the city.
“We will use a police escort to make sure all athletes will arrive at their competition site on time,” he said. “We should guarantee that the shuttle bus arrives on time.”
HAGOC has already opened designated Asian Games lanes in Hangzhou, and Mr. Wei added: “You can be sure, for the transportation, that HAGOC will do their best to get everyone there on time.”
Mr Wei said he had been involved in 10 Chefs de Mission assignments for the Asian Games – “and this will be my last because I am too old!”
He concluded: “We will try to solve, as soon as possible, any question to make sure your delegation and athletes can have a happy life and smooth participation.
“We will try our best to satisfy your requests. Sometimes we cannot satisfy all individual requests, but we will do our utmost to satisfy you.”
Topics during the CDM meeting included the roles and responsibilities of doping control, with the International Testing Agency (ITA) working hand in hand with the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA), alongside HAGOC and OCA. The testing lab will be in Beijing.
The ITA explained that, on a request by the ITA, athletes who set a new World and/or Asian record will be required to receive doping control tests from Doping Control Officers.
In addition, athletes may be tested at any time and any place from the opening of the Athletes’ Village on September 16 until the end of the event.
The OCA’s Tony Tarraf explained that the voting process for the OCA Athletes’ Committee elections had started on Monday and would run until October 6.
Other subjects included the opening ceremony on September 23, starting at 8pm and running for two hours, the various levels of transportation for senior officials, and details of the cultural programme and fitness centre in the Athletes’ Village.
The meeting heard that 44 of the 45 NOCs had completed their Delegation Registration Meetings, and that 13 NOCs had already submitted the name of their athlete representative to meet IOC President Thomas Bach in the Athletes’ Village on Friday, September 22.
