Hangzhou's postponed Asian Games rescheduled for September 2023 start

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced that Hangzhou’s postponed Asian Games will now take place from 23rd September to 8th October next year.

Originally set to run from 10th to 25th September this year, the multi-sport event was postponed in May in response to Chinese COVID-19 restrictions.

At the time, China was in the middle of its worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic and the OCA said it acted following “detailed discussions” with the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC).

A task force set up by COC, HAGOC and other stakeholders has subsequently finalised the new dates for the Games, finding a window for the Games which does not conflict with other major international sporting events.

Approved by the OCA Executive Board, the OCA will also now shift its next General Assembly from Hangzhou to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh – set to be held on 4th October.

Hangzhou 2022 is set to be China's third staging of the Asian Games, following Beijing 1990 and Guangzhou 2010.

It is among a number of sporting events in the country to be either cancelled or delayed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Two postponements have seen the Chengdu 2021 Summer World University Games moved to 2023, while the Asian Beach Games in Sanya are also now scheduled to be held in 2023.

The Asian Youth Games in Shantou were cancelled altogether, while China pulled out of hosting next year's AFC Asian Cup.

Image: Hangzhou Asian Games venue the Gongshu Canal Sports Park. Credit: @19thAGHZ2022.