Asian Olympic chief urges politicians to stay out of sport at Nagoya Games

NAGOYA: Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani urged politicians to remain out of the realm of sport during the Asian Games, following a diplomatic altercation involving a Taiwan government official. The incident occurred when Taiwan sport minister Lee Yang, a former Olympic badminton champion, was initially barred from a flag-raising ceremony, leading to a standoff as the Taiwanese delegation refused to participate in protest.

Lee was eventually allowed entry, with the ceremony taking place over an hour after its scheduled time. Taiwan's cabinet expressed dissatisfaction, stating that Lee had faced unreasonable obstruction in obtaining access credentials. Sheikh Joaan defended the Games, emphasizing that the focus should be on athletes and ensuring equal rights and freedom for all participants.

The OCA director general, Husain Al-Musallam, clarified that the flag-raising ceremony was intended for the athletes, not the delegations from ministries or government. The Nagoya Games, featuring a record 43 sports and 469 medal events, have faced organizational challenges, but organizers are working to resolve issues and ensure a successful event.