2017 Asian Youth Games
The 2017 Asian Youth Games were to be an international multi-sport event. Initially planned to be hosted by the city of Hambantota, Sri Lanka, a new host for the 2017 AYG were to be decided at a future Olympic Council of Asia general assembly after Sri Lanka lost its hosting rights.[1] It has now been decided to postpone until 2021 in Shantou, China, but was eventually cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in China.[2][3][4]
Bidding[edit]
Hambantota decided on bidding for the games after losing the vote to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games which were eventually awarded to the Gold Coast in Australia.[5] On 15 June 2012 the president of the Olympic Council of Asia Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah announced that Hambantota had been chosen as the host of the games. Indonesia, Qatar, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan also bid to stage the games but were ultimately unsuccessful.[6]
Sri Lanka was stripped of its hosting rights by OCA due to political interference of its government with its national Olympic committee. Indonesia was offered by OCA to take over as hosts and the games were suggested test event for the 2018 Asian Games. Sri Lanka's replacement was set to be decided at an OCA general assembly scheduled in September 2015,[1] but it has now been decided to postpone the event for 4 years as no replacement host city was found.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Asian Youth Games: Sri Lanka loses right to be host, OCA to offer Indonesia the chance". The Straits Times. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- ^ "Shantou awarded Asian Youth Games as event set to return in 2021 after eight-year absence". Inside the Games. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Exclusive: Asian Youth Games set to be postponed until 2021 after Jakarta withdraw". Inside the Games. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games postponed".
- ^ Champika Fernando (15 June 2012). "Failed Hambantota now settles for Youth Asian Games". Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ "Sri Lanka to host 2017 Asian Youth Games". National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2012.