Hangzhou, China, October 8, 2023: A clutch of new world records, high TV ratings and the largest number of participants all contributed towards making the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, an outstanding success, according to a top official of the Olympic Council of Asia.
OCA Acting Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari heaped praise on Asia’s sporting prowess witnessed over the past 16 days, and noted that the 19th edition of the Asian Games was of a “very high” competitive standard attracting massive TV ratings.
“The standards have been very high and we are very happy with the outcome,” Tiwari noted at a joint press conference held by the OCA and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee on Sunday, October 8 as the Games drew to an end.
“There have been a total of 13 new world records, 26 new Asian records plus 97 Games records established in Hangzhou proving that Asia is a power in sport.
“The TV ratings were also the highest ever. For instance, 70 million people watched the women’s basketball final. The media coverage has been excellent and the biggest ever seen,” Tiwari revealed.
Since the start of the Hangzhou Asian Games on September 23, China’s CCTV-5 ratings have ranked first in the country. Audiences lapped up the runaway success of the host nation who finished with a record 201 gold medals, and an overall medal count of 383.
China’s previous best gold medal haul was 199 at the 2010 Guangzhou Games. The hosts also topped the medal standings for the 11th consecutive Games, number one since 1982 New Delhi.
The 13 world records came in two sports – seven in weightlifting and six in shooting.
The 26 Asian records were spread among five sports - nine in shooting, eight in swimming, seven in weightlifting, and one each in track cycling and sport climbing.
The 97 Games records were in archery (nine), athletics (eight), track cycling (six), shooting (19), sport climbing (two), swimming (26) and weightlifting (27).
“Technically we had one of the finest Asian Games ever. We are very thankful to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee, Hangzhou and all the co-host cities, and especially the Chinese Olympic Committee, the Central government and the authorities of Zhejiang Province for their support to stage a marvellous Games in Hangzhou,” added Tiwari.
Other top numbers:
· Number of athletes 12,417
· Number of team officials 4,975
· Number of technical officials 4,700
· Number of Media 12,000