What Is Going To Be Likely Slot For Postponed Asian Games Next Year? Maybe September 2023

The slotting of the postponed Hangzhou Asian Games is a matter of speculation but the decision-making is likely to be influenced by athletics' choc-a-bloc international calendar, weather and that it must not clash with another Continental showpiece. The Hangzhou Games, postponed owing to surging COVID-19 cases in China, are unlikely to be held this year as the organisers would not have deferred a multi-sport event of such a magnitude for just one or two months.

A careful consideration of various factors suggest that scheduling the Games even in the first half of 2023 would not be possible and the best-looking slot for the Hangzhou event seems to be September next year.

INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS CALENDAR One of the main factors which is likely to be taken into consideration by the Olympic Council of Asia, Chinese Olympic Committee and the Organising Committee is the international calendar of athletics which is the blue-riband event and contributes a large chunk of participants and medals.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships will be held in Hungary from August 18 to 27 and before that there will be the usual prestigious Diamond League Meetings of 14 legs from April-May to August-September. The athletes plan their training in such a way that they peak near the World Championship, so having the Asiad in the first half would mean that athletes won't be ready and it could result in non-participation of top Asian athletes.

Also, next year's international calendar of most sports have already been fixed and it will be difficult to change them for the sake of a regional/continental multi-sport event. The international calendar of the most prominent Olympic sports end by September and just a few of the top events are left by then.