Doha organizing committee says 2031 is 'open'; OCA pushes to hold Games in odd years before Olympics
The 2030 Doha Asian Games could be pushed back a year to 2031, as the Olympic Council of Asia pursues a plan to hold the Games in the year before the Summer Olympics and use them as a qualifying platform.
Ahmad Abdullah Al-Buainain, CEO of the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee, said at a press conference Thursday in Nagoya, Japan, that he was open to the possibility of hosting the Games in 2031.
According to Reuters, Al-Buainain said the proposal to change the timing of the Games "is being discussed between the International Olympic Committee and the OCA," adding that "the most important thing for the organizing committee is to be prepared under any circumstances." He said the committee is "open" and working closely with the IOC and OCA.
However, no decision has been made on changing the schedule. According to AFP, Al-Buainain said "for us it is 2030," while also noting that preparations are underway in case the Games need to be moved forward or back by a year.
The OCA is pursuing a shift of the Asian Games from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years immediately preceding the Summer Olympics. The OCA Executive Committee approved the concept in April and is currently in talks with international sports federations across individual disciplines.
OCA Vice President Song Luzheng said at the time that moving the Doha Games from 2030 to 2031 was the expected outcome. The plan is to use the Asian Games as an Olympic qualifying event, drawing top-level athletes and raising the overall standard of competition.
If the change goes through, the 2031 Doha Asian Games would be held one year before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Because Olympic qualification systems vary by sport, separate negotiations with each international federation would be required to use the Games as a qualifying event.
The IOC has also expressed support for the idea. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who attended the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, told Xinhua that she supports holding continental multi-sport events one year before the Olympics as qualifying platforms and said she looks forward to seeing changes in the OCA and the Asian Games.
If the Doha Games move to 2031, there would be a five-year gap between the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the next edition.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
