KUALA LUMPUR: The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are two years from now, but preparation work is already ongoing.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) announced today that it will work closely with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) to propose the inclusion of sports in which Malaysian athletes excel.
After chairing the OCM executive committee meeting, its president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said: "The Games will take place on Sept 19-Oct 4 at the Nagoya City and Aichi prefecture in Japan.
"AINAGOC has proposed a total of 41 sports, 58 disciplines and 400 events to be completed for the approval of OCA.
"OCM will collaborate with both OCA and AINAGOC to propose the inclusion of sports in which Malaysian athletes can excel."
The previous Hangzhou Asian Games had a total of 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 481 events.
The Malaysian contingent finished 14th on the overall medal standings with six gold, eight silver and 18 bronze.
Separately, Norza also announced that OCM will be hosting the Olympic Solidarity-Olympic Council of Asia Regional Forum for East and Southeast National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in Kuala Lumpur in May.
The forum is expected to be attended by 100 delegates, comprising those from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), OCA, East Asian NOCs, Southeast Asian NOCs and Asian Games Organising Committees.
Other matters discussed at the OCM executive committee meeting was former diving world champion Cheong Jun Hoong has been selected to participate in the Empowering Youth Capacity Building Internship Programme organised by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Bangkok-Chonburi will be held on Nov 21-30 this year, while the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin has been reschedule to Feb 7-14 next year.
