New venues complete for 19th Asian Games as Hangzhou announces ‘zero-waste’ event
The organising committee of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 (HAGOC) has advised that the completed Gongshu Canal Asian Games Sports Park has passed its acceptance criteria for hosting events.
The acceptance mark the official completion of the new precinct, which comprises the field hockey stadium and a gymnasium to host the table tennis competition and break dancing (breaking).
One of 55 competition venues to host the 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 482 events of the 19th Asian Games, the Gongshu Canal Asian Games Sports Park is located 26 kilometres from the Asian Games Village and has a land area of 46 hectares and a gross floor area of 162,000 metre².
The hockey stadium has a floor area of 8,697 metre² and a seating capacity of 5,000, while the gymnasium has a floor area of 21,500 metre² and a capacity of 6,500 seats.
'Zero-Waste Asian Games'
Officials from the Hangzhou municipality have also announced plans to make Hangzhou a ‘Zero Waste City’ as of next year, transitioning, specifically for the 19th Asian Games, to producing zero waste at the city level.
With the advantages of digitalization and e-administration, Hangzhou is looking to lead the way in substantially decreasing waste generation while increase separate collection and recycling.
With a ‘Zero-Waste Asian Games’ at the centre of the narrative, Lai Yong, Chief Official of Solid Wastes and Chemicals Department in Hangzhou Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, explained "'Zero-Waste Asian Games' is a program to implement best practices of zero waste into the 19th Asian Games, to achieve the conservation of all resources through responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery, with no discharges that threaten the environment or human health
"The implementation of the 'Zero-Waste Asian Games' is like a window to showcase the city's capability on waste and resource management, from which we hope every tourist and Asian Games participant can feel the charm of Hangzhou's ecological system."
Oceania to compete
In another Games development, more than 300 athletes from Oceania countries have been given the chance to compete at next year’s event.
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced the unprecedented move at its 40th general assembly in the United Arab Emirates last month.
OCA’s Director General Husain Al Musallam said athletes from Oceania who finish in the top three of an event will receive “honorary medals” that will not be counted in the final medal tallies.
The 19th Asian Games will run from 10th to 22nd September next year in Hangzhou and five co-host cities within Zhejiang province. China has hosted the Games twice before - in Guangzhou in 2010 and Beijing in 1990.
Breaking will be making its Asian Games debut ahead of its first appearance in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
Images: Hangzhou Asian Games venue the Gongshu Canal Sports Park. Credit: @19thAGHZ2022.
Related Articles
8th December 2021 - Australian Government joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics
7th December 2021 - International Tennis Federation will not back Women’s Tennis Association China boycott
8th November 2021 - Esports to feature as medal sport at Asian Games Hangzhou
29th October 2021 - Alibaba Sports secures 15-year operation and management contract for Hangzhou Asian Games venues
25th October 2021 - New Chinese COVID outbreaks sees postponement of Beijing and Wuhan marathons
19th October 2021 - Vietnam’s rescheduled Southeast Asian Games to be held in May 2022
30th September 2021 - China to restrict Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics tickets to residents
17th September 2021 - Opening of China’s National Games marks return of major spectator events
27th August 2021 - Hong Kong and Macau to partner Guangdong in hosting China’s 2025 National Games
18th May 2021 - Construction advances on wave-like stadium centrepiece for 2021 Asian Youth Games
1st March 2021 - OCA and AESF sign partnership agreement for 2022 Asian Games
31st December 2020 - Olympic Council of Asia announces second postponement of 6th Asian Beach Games
16th December 2020 - Olympic Council of Asia awards Asian Games hosting to Doha in 2030 and Riyadh in 2034
30th November 2020 - Design revealed for new 63,000-seat Dalian Stadium
10th July 2020 - China bans international sporting events until 2021
18th March 2020 - Preparations recommence for Hangzhou’s 2022 Asian Games hosting
12th November 2019 - SPIA Asia 2019 event links with 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila
1st March 2019 - Successful Asian Games prompts Indonesian 2032 Olympics bid
13th August 2018 - 12 Jakarta sport venues inaugurated in advance of Asian Games
29th January 2018 - 2018 FINA World Aquatics Convention to be staged in Hangzhou
20th November 2017 - Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games organisers announce venue development schedule
17th September 2015 - OCA confirms Hangzhou as 2022 Asian Games host as secretary general steps down
