New development: Australia may join Asiad in future

The OCA general assembly voted over the weekend to allow Oceania countries to compete at the next Asian Indoor Games

INCHEON: Australia has welcomed the idea of possibly competing at the Asian Games after Asian Olympic officials agreed to let Oceania nations join them in smaller multi-sports events.

While there are no firm plans as yet to allow Oceania countries to compete at the main Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has now opened the door.

The OCA general assembly, meeting on the sidelines of the 17th Asian Games in South Korea, voted over the weekend to allow Oceania countries to compete at the next Asian Indoor Games, to be held in 2017.

“I think we have an opportunity,” said OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. “But we don’t want to go directly for everything. Let’s do it step-by-step. Indoor will be good. Then we will think more.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.