{
  "id": 8405020,
  "title": "Olympic Council of Asia president says politics have already entered into the Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/olympic-council-of-asia-president-says-politics-have-already-entered",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-19T07:03:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/19/olympic-council-of-asia-president-says-politics-have-already-entered-into-the-asian-games"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — The president of the Olympic Council of Asia expressed disappointment on Saturday that politics had intruded into the Asian Games. Specifically, he referenced a welcoming ceremony that included Taiwan. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, speaking to the media, emphasized that he believes politics should not have a place in sports. He was speaking just hours before the games officially kicked off.\n\nThe Asian Games, which began several days earlier, saw participation from up to 17,000 athletes and officials, with some housed on a cruise ship. Sheikh Joaan expressed his disapproval of the involvement of politics in the games, stating that the Olympic Council of Asia does not mix sports with politics.\n\nThe controversy arose from an incident on Friday, where Taiwan's sports minister, Lee Yang, was briefly barred from a welcoming ceremony and flag-raising. Lee was later allowed to participate after it was determined to be a misunderstanding. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in badminton, having won gold in 2020 and 2024.\n\nTaiwan competes in the Asian Games and Olympics under the name Chinese Taipei and uses a team rather than a flag due to China's claim over the island off its eastern coast. Taiwan media reported that the OCA had issued an order barring Lee's participation, an order that Taiwan officials were unable to produce.\n\nDespite the incident, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, led by Chen Shih-kwei, remained steadfast in their commitment to the Olympic spirit. They insisted on attending all events equally and with dignity, insisting on their right to participate despite the perceived suppression.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, OCA president, criticizes politics intrusion in Asian Games.",
    "Taiwan's sports minister barred from ceremony due to misunderstanding, later allowed.",
    "Chinese Taipei competes under team name, not flag, due to China's territorial claim."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/8405020.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asian Games medal near impossible for men's and women's badminton teams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/asian-games-medal-near-impossible-for-mens-and-womens-badminton-teams",
        "published": "2026-09-19T03:51:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBS World Radio",
        "title": "20th Asian Games Set to Kick Off in Japan for 16-Day Run",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/20th-asian-games-set-to-kick-off-in-japan-for-16-day-run",
        "published": "2026-09-19T03:56:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Games-Kit blunder forces India to change Asian Games flagbearer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/games-kit-blunder-forces-india-to-change-asian-games-flagbearer",
        "published": "2026-09-19T04:01:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Badminton Asian Games draw: India men, women potentially face Japan in QF",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/badminton-asian-games-draw-india-men-women-potentially-face-japan-in",
        "published": "2026-09-19T04:17:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Asian Olympic chief urges politicians to stay out of sport at Nagoya Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/asian-olympic-chief-urges-politicians-to-stay-out-of-sport-at-nagoya",
        "published": "2026-09-19T07:30:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}