The 2014 Asian Games, officially known as the XVII Asiad, is the largest sporting event in Asia governed by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). It is scheduled to take place in Incheon, South Korea from September 19–October 4, 2014.[1] The events of the Games will be finalised in December 2010, during the OCA executive board meeting in Muscat, Oman.[2]

Incheon was awarded the right on April 17, 2007, defeated Delhi, India to host the Games. Incheon is the third city in South Korea after Seoul (1986) and Busan (2002) to host the Asian Games.

Organisation

Bid

2014 Asian Games bidding results

City Country Votes

Incheon South Korea 32

Delhi India 13

Two cities were bidding for the Games, as Delhi (India) and Incheon (South Korea) made a formal bid on December 2, 2006 in Doha, Qatar.[3]

The vote was held on April 17, 2007 at the Marriot Hotel in Kuwait City, Kuwait, during the OCA's general assembly. Final presentation prior to the votes, Incheon make a new offer, raise USD$20 million funds to support the countries who yet won a medal in the Games, as well as offer free flight and accommodation to all the participants, while India has offered nothing.[4][5] All 45 members voted, with voting held in secret ballot. Around 4 p.m. local time, it was announced that Incheon won the rights,[6] although the vote results were not released, it was revealed Incheon won by 32–13.[7]

It was widely felt that Delhi's lack of enthusiasm to host the event was the primary reason for its loss. Then Union Sports Minister of India, Mani Shankar Aiyar, spoke strongly against Delhi hosting the games and argued that it was better if the money allocated by India's government for organizing the sporting event was spent on building facilities for the poor.[8] The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president revealed that India's Sports Minister remarks against hosting the Games was the main reason for New Delhi's loss.[9] The IOA delegation also added that the bids evaluation committee concerns about pollution and traffic in Delhi,[10] as well as Delhi offering USD$200,000 to each team for games support against Incheon's offer of US$20 million to all 45 nations participating in the event could also have contributed to the defeat.[4]

Slogan

Unveiled on September 16, 2010, "Diversity Shines Here" is the official slogan of the Games. It represents and highlights the significance of Asia’s wonderful diversity in history, cultures, and religions.[11]

Marketing

Harbor Seal, the Games mascots

Three seal siblings was unveiled on November 4, 2010 as official mascot of the Games in Songdo Island, Incheon. The three seals, known as "Barame", "Chumuro" and "Vichuon", means wind, dance and light in Korean language, is in accordance with the theme of main venue. The prototype was took from Baengnyeong Island. According to the organisers, the mascot was chosen as symbolic to the future peace between South Korea and North Korea.[12]

Official emblem also unveiled on same day, represent by a huge wing consisting of a string of "A", the first letter of "Asia", with a shining sun at its upper left, it symbolising the Asian people holding hands in the sky.[12]

Venues

The organisers announced that 40 competition venues and 56 training venues would be used during the Games, with half of the competition venues to be constructed and completed by June 2014. The Games also consist two athletes and media villages.[13]

The main stadium is a newly built arena. The USD$400 million stadium was designed by Populous, an Australian company who also designed several stadium around the world, and also main stadium of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The stadium consist 70,000 seats, with reduction to 30,000 seats after the Games.[14]

Games

Sports

See also: Olympic sports#Current summer program

The organisers initially proposed to stage 38 sports in the Games, but during the 28th Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) general assembly in Singapore in July 2009, it was decided that the number of sports be trimmed to 35 by contesting the 28 Olympic sports and in-addition of seven non-Olympic sports.[15]

The seven non-Olympic sports will be finalised in December 2010 in OCA's executive board meeting in Muscat, Oman.[2] The issue has been delayed due to conflict of interest between the organisers and OCA. On 13 November 2010, organisers proposed baseball, ten-pin bowling, kabbadi, sepak takraw, softball, squash, wushu for inclusion and drop cricket due to their view that it is played in a small number of countries and they lacked infrastructure to host it. The OCA however, insisting the inclusion of karate, as well as cricket because the sport can generate returns through television viewership due to high spectator interest,[16] while ten-pin bowling was recommended to be re-designated for the Indoor Games.[17]