India hosted the first Asian Games in New Delhi, in 1951. Since then, the Games have been held every four years. Eleven countries took part in the inaugural Games. The 1951 Asian Games opened the window to a world of rare performances, from Asian athletes. Japan’s Sawada Bunkichi cleared 13ft 6inches in the Pole Vault. Yashino Tokyoya astonished everyone by hurling the Discuss to a distance of more than 139ft while Nagayusu Haru became the first Asian to send the Javelin hurling past the 200 feet mark.
After new Delhi, it was Manila’s turn to be host. It was here the Philippines gifted the Asian Games, its very own song. The Asian Games Hymn, Ever onwards shine and gleam, ye star of Asian birth, one spirit rules the games, was sung by a Filipino choir of a 1,000 voices. Iran did not take part, however, Pakistan made debut on the Asian stage. Yet again Games produced a remarkably high standard of performance with nearly all the records of the first Asian Games bettered by the athletes.
Four games later, Tehran was the venue of the sixth Asian Games. By far the most efficient as the technical aspects were concerned, Tehran was the first of the modern Asian Games with synthetic track used for the first time in the event. It was also the last time Israel was able to take part in the Asian Game.
In 1970, the Games returned to Bangkok for a second time, after Seoul withdrew at the last minute. Still, even in Bangkok, the Games nearly fell victim to the threat of a cyclone, almost causing the games to be cancelled.
The Asian Games are held for the purpose of developing inter-cultural knowledge and friendship within Asia. The member countries and regions are affiliated with the Olympic Council of Asia. OCA was established in December 1982 as successor to the Asian Games Federation (AGF). The OCA, to which 43 countries and regions are currently affiliated, is the body co-ordinating the Asian Games. In this sports festival, held in-between the Olympic Games, young people from all over Asia gather together to compete. It is an occasion when their strength and skill are tested, and friendships and solidarity are built and deepened. The Games are also intended to act as a forum for cultural exchange, and the official programme includes exhibitions of architecture, painting and sculpture.
Five hundred athletes participated in the first Asian Games to compete in only six sports. Since, the Games have developed a great deal. This year, when the Games’ 14 edition takes place in Busan, more than 11,000 athletes and officials and 7,000 media personnel from 42 countries will be participating in the a total of 38 sporting events. Though it was 37 sporting events, Karate was added during the 20th OCA General Assembly in May 2001 in Aomori.
This will be the first time in the history of the Games, that all member nations will be participating. Close to 877470 tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies and 2.94 million tickets for the 38 sporting events will be available.
1951 New Delhi, India
March 04, March 11, 1951 (eight days)
Participants: Japan, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Afghanistan, and Nepal (11 nations in all).
Number of participants: 500
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Cycling, Basketball, and Weightlifting (six events in total).
Korea did not participate due to the Korean War.
Japan was allowed to participate on condition of its entry into the United Nations.
1954 Manila, Philippines
May 01, 1954 — May 09, 1954 (nine days).
Participants: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Indonesia, Singapore, Ceylon (now Sri Sanka), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Israel and Cambodia (18 nations in total).
Number of participants: 1,241
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Basketball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Boxing and Shooting (eight events in total).
One of the founding members, Syria withdrew.
Korea made its debut.
1958 Tokyo, Japan
May 24, 1958 — June 01, 1958 (nine days).
Participants: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Indonesia, Singapore, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Israel, Cambodia, Iran, Bahrain, and Nepal (20 nations in total).
Number of participants: 1,692
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Basketball, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Shooting, Tennis, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Hockey and Cycling (13 events in total).
The phrase, Ever Onward was adopted as the official slogan for the first time.
This event established the games as an international sports meeting of the entire Asian continent.
1962 Jakarta, Indonesia
August 24, 1962 — September 04, 1962 (12 days)
Participants: Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Indonesia, Singapore, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Vietnam (16 nations).
Number of participants: 1,527
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Cycling, Boxing, Wrestling, Shooting, Hockey, and Badminton (13 events in total).
Israel did not participate because of her political and religious conflicts with other countries.
1966 Bangkok, Thailand
December 09 1966 — December 20, 1966 (12 days)
Participants: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Israel, Vietnam, and Ceylon (now Sri Sanka) (18 nations in total).
Number of participants: 2,500
Events: Track and Field, Swimming. Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Cycling, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Shooting, Hockey, and Badminton (14 events in total).
Korea was ranked 2nd overall
New Zealand’s request to join the Asian Games gang was refused.
1970 Bangkok, Thailand
December 09, 1970 — December 20, 1970 (12 days)
Participants: Korea, Japan Taiwan, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Israel, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Number of participants: 2,500
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Cycling, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Shooting, Hockey, Badminton, Yacht racing (13 events in total)
It is only after Korea gave up the right to host the Games, that Bangkok, the previous host country, hosted the Games two times in a row.
1974 Tehran, Iran
September 01 1974 — September 16 1974 (16 days)
Participants: South Korea, Japan, China, North Korea, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan. Malaysia, Hong Kong, Israel, Vietnam, Mongolia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain.
Communist block counties, such as China, North Korea and Mongolia participated in the Games for the first time.
Iran the host country, allowed Israel to participate, despite the opposition from Arab countries
1978 Bangkok, Thailand
December 09, 1978 — December 20, 1978 (12 days)
Participants: South Korea, Japan, China, North Korea, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Arab Emirates and Bangladesh.
Number of participants: 4,000
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Cycling, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Fencing, Shooting, Gymnastics, Hockey, Badminton, Archery, Bowling and Yacht Racing (19 events in total)
The AGF was dissolved and a movement to establish the OCA began to surface.
Pakistan gave up the right to host the Games, therefore they took place in Bangkok, Thailand instead.
Israel and Taiwan were excluded from the list of participants.
1982 New Delhi, India
November 19 1982 — December 04, 1978 (16 days)
Participants: South Korea, China, North Korea, Thailand, Japan, India, the Philippines, Burma (now Myanmar), Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan. Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Laos, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Arab Emirates, North Yemen, South Yemen, Oman and Maldives.
Number of participants: 4,500
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Handball, Cycling, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Archery, Shooting, Equestrian Events, Gymnastics, Hockey, Badminton, Canoeing, Yacht Racing and Golf.
The OCA was established and took control of the Games.
China ranked number one in the competition.
1986 Seoul, South Korea September 20, 1986 — October 05, 1986 (16 days)
Participants: South Korea, China, Japan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Arab Emirates, Yemen, Jordan and Iraq.
Number of participants: 4,839
Events: Track and Field, Swimming, Archery, Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Boxing, Cycling, Equestrian Events, Fencing, Soccer, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Canoeing, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Yacht Racing (25 events in total)
South Korea took second place overall, finishing ahead of Japan.
India hosted the first Asian Games in New Delhi, in 1951. Since then, the Games have been held every four years. Eleven countries took part in the inaugural Games. The 1951 Asian Games opened the window to a world of rare performances, from Asian athletes. Japan’s Sawada Bunkichi cleared 13ft 6inches in the Pole Vault. Yashino Tokyoya astonished everyone by hurling the Discuss to a distance of more than 139ft while Nagayusu Haru became the first Asian to send the Javelin hurling past the 200 feet mark.
