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OCA cancels Sri Lanka's hosting of Asian Youth Games 2017

President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah
President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah
TEHRAN, May 21 (KUNA) -- President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah announced Thursday that the Council has withdrawn the 3rd Asian Youth Games in 2017 (AYG 2017) from Sri Lanka due to problems with the independence of the National Olympic Committee by the government.
OCA has offered the 3rd AYG 2017 to Jakarta, Indonesia, as a test event for the 2018 Asian Games, Sheikh Ahmad said in a press conference following the 66th OCA Executive Board meeting in the Iranian capital, adding that the final decision would be made at the OCA General Assembly in Turkmenistan in September.
The meeting reviewed updates from the organizing committees of upcoming OCA events such as the 5th Asian Beach Games 2016 in Vietnam, the 8th Asian Winter Games 2017 in Japan, the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 (AIMAG 2017) in Turkmenistan, and the 18th Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia, said Sheikh Ahmad.
The 5th AIMAG 2017 in Turkmenistan has been the center of focus during todays' meeting as it will feature 21 sports to be contested by 62 countries, including from the Oceania region for the first time, OCA Chief noted.
Sheikh Ahmad also confirmed OCA's support to Iranian sports in all games, as well as in hosting continental championship events and contests, describing Iran as one of our major partners and members of Asia. (end) fz.mw.ma