Thursday Marks One-Month Countdown To 8th Asian Winter Games

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Thursday marks the one-month countdown to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) 8th Asian Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan. The Asian sports governing body is looking forward to returning to Sapporo, not only because it is the scenic capital city of Hokkaido but also because it is the original home of the Asian Winter Games. "The host city of the 1972 Winter Olympics organised our first two Asian Winter Games, in 1986 and 1990, and has played a pioneering role in the development of winter sports throughout Asia. "We will always be grateful to Sapporo and to the Japanese Olympic Committee for their leadership and unwavering support of the OCA, as this will be the fourth Asian Winter Games to take place in Japan, including Aomori 2003," said OCA president, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah in a statement Wednesday. He added the OCA was confident that Sapporo would put up a first-class show for the athletes and spectators when the 8th Asian Winter Games starts from Feb 19-26, with 64 events in 11 disciplines of five sports at 12 venues. The local organisers, he said, have vast experience in staging winter sports events and their expertise will guarantee a smooth and successful Sapporo Asian Winter Games. "The winter sports spirit of Japan shines through in the number of countries and regions entering this latest edition of the Asian Winter Games. "The ice hockey tournament, for example, has attracted 26 teams – 20 in the men's competition and six in the women's event. The entry has surpassed all expectations and reflects the growth of winter sports throughout the continent, even in countries where it never snows or freezes." The entry includes teams from the Gulf – United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Independent Olympic Athletes representing the suspended Kuwait Olympic Committee – as well as from Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad said the presence of teams and athletes from unlikely winter sports countries in such a winter sports hotbed as Sapporo will add value to our games and reflect the true diversity and unity, of the five zones of Asian continent. The OCA and Sapporo will welcome athletes from two Oceania National Olympic Committees, Australia and New Zealand, who will be competing as guest athletes in individual events only and ineligible to win medals. Meanwhile, Malaysia will be sending 36 athletes and 19 officials in four disciplines at the Winter Asian Games namely -- ice hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating and also alpine skiing. --BERNAMA