Haiyang, China: The 61st Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board meeting was held at the Shenglong Jianguo Hotel on Saturday – the day of the opening ceremony of the 3rd Asian Beach Games. The OCA President, H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, began his opening address by thanking the municipal, provincial and central government for their “great and hard work” in preparing for the Games, which run from June 16-22 and feature 49 events in 13 sports.

He also reflected on an eventful few months for Asian sport, following his election as President of the Association of National Olympic Committees at the 18th ANOC General Assembly in Moscow on April 13, along with a Vice President role for Raja Randhir Singh (India) and the new Executive Council member Yu Zaiqing (China).

“On behalf of Asia I would like to show our gratitude and thanks to our friends in the Olympic Movement,” said Sheikh Ahmad.

The OCA President also congratulated Tokyo on being selected by the IOC as one of the three candidate cities for the 2020 Olympic Games, along with Madrid and Istanbul, and described recent events as “an historical victory” for Asian sport.

“Let us continue to work hard and continue with our success,” he added. “This cannot be done without solidarity, unity, hard work and understanding between all of us. We are a good example of a sports organisation, with a lot of events and activities coming up in the next few years.”

These include the centenary celebrations in the Philippines in 2013 of the first multi-sports event to be held in Asia, the Oriental/Far East Games in Manila in 1913.

The President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, Liu Peng, who is also China’s Sports Minister, spoke of the close cooperation with the OCA over many years, and said the organising committee would spare no effort in staging a successful Beach Games.

The Executive Board heard progress reports on the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, in 2014, the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon in 2013 and the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand, in 2014.

In other news, the EB:

* Agreed with the OCA Sports Committee to recognise the Asiania Parachute Fderation,

* Offered temporary recognition to the Asian Go Federation and the Asian and International e-Sports (electronic gaming) Federation to allow more time for development,

* Confirmed the date of the next EB meeting, in Macau on November 7.