A Crash Course in the Asian Games

A Crash Course in the Asian Games
29 September 2024
The Asian Games is a multi-sport event that sees athletes from all over Asia compete in bouts of strength, speed, and skill. In the West, coverage of these games is sparse, but they are a fantastic chance to see some amazing competitive bouts. In this article, we give a crash course in understanding the Asian games.

The History of the Asian Games


Also known as the Asiad, the games began in 1951. The first event was held in New Delhi, India, and has continued in various locations every four years since. These events are recognized by the Olympic committee and are the second biggest event after the Olympics themselves. Thus, a lot of the games included are often viewed and often taken up by the official Olympic committee.


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The range of different cities that have hosted them is vast. These have ranged from Tehran to Manilla and even some Middle Eastern cities like Doha. They have also expanded to include a list of 45 different nations and regions.

What Events Are Held at the Asian Games?


The Asian Games has a wide range of sports and many you will find at the Olympics. These include athletics, tennis, aquatics, boxing, martial arts, and other disciplines. However, it can be enjoyable as it also has a range of activities not usually included in the Olympics. Dragon boat racing, dancesport, kung fu, and sepak takraw are all sports you won't get anywhere else.

For example, one of the most popular disciplines is board games. This lets countries compete for medals in chess, contract bridge, go, and Xiangqi. At the last games, Esports were included for the first time. These are games played online competitively, essentially video games contested by individuals and teams. This industry has grown huge in the past few years, building a massive following, with bookmakers even taking wagers on the most popular events like DOTA 2 betting. They will continue to be included in the forthcoming 2026 games.

The most unique events are often included for one iteration of the games, then do not make a comeback. These are the ones that add interest to the festival. In 2018 a jetski competition took place, and games like bowling have been included intermittently since the games began.

The 2026 Games in Japan


The next Asian games are scheduled to be held in Japan. It will be the 20th official Asian Games and will be held at the Aichi Prefecture and its capital, Nagoya. This will be the third Japanese city to host the games following Tokyo and Hiroshima. Many areas in Greater Tokyo will host games as well, using facilities built during the 2020 Olympic games.

If you have never watched the Asian games, take some time to tune in. They not only offer the best in world sports but can introduce you to some exciting contests you may not have thought of watching before. For lovers of sport, the Asian games are a sight to behold.

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