Karate in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games

Muscat,Oman: HH Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al-Sabah, President of OCA and Dr. Lee, Yun Taek, President of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (IAGOC) made the final confirmation for the decisions including the Sports Program of the 17th Asian Games prior to thePress Conference in Muscat, Oman.

The Olympic Council of Asia and the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee have finalized the sports program for the 17th Asian Games- Incheon 2014. IAGOC had proposed a total of 35 sports at the Guangzhou OCA General Assembly based on the amendments made to the OCA.

OCA & IAGOC made the final confirmation for the decisions including the Sports Program of the 17th Asian Games.

The 35 sports proposed by IAGOC were 28 Olympic sports plus baseball, bowling, kabaddi, sepaktakraw, softball, squash, and wushu. However, the OCA Executive Board had decided that the inclusion of cricket and karatedo would be more beneficial towards the overall direction of the Asian Games.

As per the OCA Constitution, the OCA has the sole authority to approve the sports program. Based on this fact, OCA and IAGOC have finalized the sports program for the 17th Asian Games.

The sports program for the 17th Asian Games are as follows:

1) 28 Olympic sports
2) Baseball
3) Bowling (usage of existing venues as recommended by OCA)
4) Kabaddi
5) Sepaktakraw
6) Squash
7) Wushu
8) Cricket (temporary venues)
9) Karatedo

It was also agreed that no additional sports will be allowed to be added to the sports program once announced.

Along the same lines, OCA has allotted the 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Art Games to the City of Incheon in 2013. The OCA and Incheon therefore agree that a maximum of 9 sports will be included in the sports program for the 4th AIMAG. The exact sports program will be chosen by Incheon and approved by the OCA. However, the sports program should consist of sports that are appropriate to be tested for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Both parties have agreed that there will be no indoor athletics competitions and no new indoor athletic stadium will be required to be constructed for the Games.

As for the marketing release, OCA and IAGOC have agreed to follow the Guangzhou method for the 17th Asian Games and that the generated revenues would be shared as per the OCA Constitution Olympic Council of Asia © OCA 2009 - All rights reserved which OCA would take one-third and IAGOC would retain the remaining two-thirds.