Bangkok, Thailand, March 6, 2024: The 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to be held in Thailand this November will represent Asian unity in today’s troubled world, according to Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al-Musallam.
Mr. Al-Musallam, who was speaking at the 4th Coordination Committee Meeting for AIMAG 6 on Wednesday, March 6, urged Thai organisers to work hard towards realising a dream event in Bangkok and Chonburi Province from November 21-30.
“These Games are very important as it will show the world that Asia is united and together in these troubled times,” Al-Musallam said. “If we have a good Games then we also leave behind a legacy, one which will have an impact on Thailand as well as the rest of Asia.
“We have no doubt about your capabilities, with Thailand having hosted four Asian Games as well as the first Asian Indoor Games and the first Asian Martial Arts Games, and we know of this proud track record,” noted Al-Musallam.
With this in mind, he urged the Thai organisers to work hand in hand with the OCA towards the success of the Games, saying it would be a “success for all of us.”
The 4th Coordination Committee Meeting drew the curtain down on a busy series of meetings over the last few days in the Thai capital, starting with the Technical Delegates Meeting and then the Chefs de Mission Meeting.
Timothy Fok, OCA Vice President and President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, chaired the CC meeting where members of the OCA met across a table with the Thai Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Organising Committee (TAIMAGOC) to hammer out the details of the event.
Among decisions taken were:
· Streamlining the sports programme, especially limiting team sports to 12-team competition (futsal will be an exception with 16 teams).
· To cut down on the number of events per sport.
· To cut down on the number of technical officials.
· Water polo dropped from the aquatics programme.
Organisers will keep the number of sports at 36, plus two demonstration sports, making this the biggest AIMAG, but the measures taken at the CC meeting was an attempt to cut down on costs.
Thai organisers who looked at various issues like venues, transport, volunteers and medical and anti-doping, also revealed that the accreditation card issued for athletes and officials cannot be used as a visa, and that all participants would need to apply for a Thai visa separately.
Timothy Fok, Chair of the AIMAG 6 Coordination Committee, reminded organisers that the “clock was ticking” at these Games - originally scheduled for 2021 but postponed due to the Covid pandemic and then the Thai general elections.
“These Games are the most important Games for the OCA this year and we all want it to be a huge success. This meeting has been very productive and I wish you all the best,” Fok said.
The series of AIMAG 6 meetings will end with the Coordination Committee making site visits to Bangkok and Chonburi on Thursday, March 7.
