The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is an international organization which represents the current 45 National Olympic Committees of Asia.
It is affiliated with the International Olympic Committee and its affiliated bodies, including the Association of National Olympic Committees, and serves as the continental association of Asia.
The organization's flagship event is the quadrennial Asian Games, held since 1951.
Contents
History
In 1948, during the 1948 Summer Olympics, Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) decided to organize the Asian Games, under the auspices of Asian Games Federation. The following year the Asian Games Federation was organized. Decades later this would be reorganized and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was established in New Delhi on 16 November 1982. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized the OCA within the same year.
On 9 December 1996, during the 15th General Assembly in Bangkok, the Olympic Council of Asia unveiled its official anthem, a composition that blends sounds from various cultures across the Asian continent. This song symbolises cooperation and unity among Asian nations in the sporting world, reflecting an effort to strengthen ties and promote the Olympic spirit in the region.
The OCA together with the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) announced a new campaign for the upcoming 2022 Asian Games. The campaign, ‘Road to Asian Games’ will be officially organized by the AESF and aims to bring the Olympic spirit to eSports and introduce an education program for participating eSports athletes.
On 8 July 2023, Talal Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was elected as President of the OCA. However, the IOC refused to recognize the election, and on 30 July 2023, the IOC, in a letter, asked Randhir Singh, who was at the time the Acting President of the OCA, to continue as acting president while the IOC investigated the 2023 OCA presidential election. In July 2024, Singh was elected as the next President of the OCA, and the election, where he was the sole candidate, was unanimously approved by the Election Committee. Singh's presidential election is set to take place at the OCA General Assembly on 8 September 2024.
Member nations
In the following table, the year in which the NOC was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also given if it is different from the year in which the NOC was created. The NOC for Macau is recognized by the OCA, but is not recognized by the IOC and does not compete in the Olympic Games. The OCA also includes the NOCs of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Palestine. Timor-Leste is the newest member, joining in 2003.
The OCA includes the transcontinental country of Kazakhstan, but does not include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Turkey, and Russia, although they are located wholly or mostly in Asia. Israel, however, was excluded after the Munich Massacre, upon the claim that their delegation security at the Asian Games would be a problem. The South Caucasian countries opted to join the European Olympic Committees after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Former members
Israel was a member of the Asian Games Federation, but was excluded from the Olympic Council of Asia upon its re-incorporation in 1981. Since 1994, Israel is a member of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) instead.
Administration
Executive board
Source:
OCA General Assembly (GA)
Source:
In General Assembly (GA) (OCA Annual General Assembly) hosts of various competitions are introduced and important decisions are made about the countries and sports that covered by OCA.
1st: 1982 in New Delhi, India.
2nd: 1983 in, .
3rd: 1984 in Seoul, South Korea.
4th: 1985 in, .
5th: 1986 in, .
6th: 1987 in, .
7th: 1988 in, .
8th: 1989 in, .
9th: 1990 in Beijing, China.
10th: 1991 in, .
11th: 1992 in, .
12th: 1993 in, .
13th: 1994 in, .
14th: 23 May 1995 in Seoul, South Korea.
15th: 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand.
16th: 1997 in, .
17th: 1998 in, .
18th: 1999 in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
19th: 12 November 2000 in Busan, South Korea.
20th: 2001 in Aomori, Japan.
21st: 2002 in Busan, South Korea.
OCA Executive Board Meeting (EBM)
64th : January 2013 in Manila, Philippines.
OCA Recognized Sports
90 Sports on 1 January 2024. The OCA provides recognition in order for a sport to grow and develop.
Air sports – Airsport Federation of Asia (AFA)
Aquatic sports – Asia Swimming Federation (ASF)
Archery – Asian Archery Federation (AAF)
Athletics – Asian Athletics Association (AAA)
Badminton – Badminton Asia (BA)
Baseball – Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA)
Basketball – FIBA Asia (FIBA)
Biathlon – International Biathlon Union (IBU)
Billiards Sports – Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS)
Bobsleigh – International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing (FIBT)
Bodybuilding – Asian Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (AFBF)
Bowling – Asian Bowling Federation (ABF)
Boxing – Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC)
Bridge – Pacific Asia Bridge Federation (PABF)
Canoeing – Asian Canoe Confederation (ACC)
Chess – Asian Chess Federation (ACF)
Chinlone – Asian Chinlone Federation (ACF)
2026 Asian Games program
2026 Asian Games sports:
42 Sports consist of 32 sports from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Surfing: New sport in Asian Games) + 9 other sports. One from each of the five OCA Zones: [Wushu (East Asia), Sepak takraw (Southeast Asia), Kabaddi (South Asia), Kurash (Central Asia), Jujitsu (West Asia) and 7 Sports from AINAGOC (Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee) and the Olympic Council of Asia: Baseball/Softball, Cricket, Karate, Esports, Squash, Dancesport (Breakdance, Virtual), Tenpin bowling and proposed: Powerlifting.
Events
Asian Games
Asian Winter Games
Asian Beach Games
Asian Youth Games
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games
Related Events:
Far Eastern Championship Games - Western Asiatic Games
FESPIC Games - Asian Para Games
Events Summary
Asian Summer Games (1951–2022) (19) 5,232 Events
Asian Winter Games (1986–2017) (8) 387 Events
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (2005–2017) (5+1) 1,042 Events
Asian Beach Games (2008–2016) (5) 509 Events
Asian Youth Games (2009–2013) (2) 212 Events
Total : 41 Games (1951–2025): 7,446 Events