Editing Asian Games (section)

==History==
===Origins===
The [[Far Eastern Championship Games]] existed previous to the Asian Games, the former mooted in 1912 for a location set between [[Empire of Japan|Japan]], the [[Insular Government of the Philippine Islands|Philippines]], and [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]]. The inaugural Far Eastern Games were held in [[Manila]] in [[1913 Far Eastern Games|1913]] with 6 participating nations. There were ten Far Eastern Games held by [[1934 Far Eastern Games|1934]]. The [[second Sino-Japanese War]] in 1934, and Japan's insistence on including the [[Manchukuo|Manchu Empire]] as a competitor nation in the Games, caused China to announce its withdrawal from participation. The Far Eastern Games scheduled for [[1938 Far Eastern Games|1938]] were cancelled. The organization was eventually discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|title=Far Eastern Championship Games|url=http://www.ocasia.org/Game/GamesL1.aspx?9QoyD9QEWPfemU/arvY96w== |publisher=Olympic Council of Asia|access-date=19 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226015204/http://www.ocasia.org/Game/GamesL1.aspx?9QoyD9QEWPfemU%2FarvY96w=%3D|archive-date=26 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Formation===
After World War II, several areas in Asia became [[sovereign state]]s. Many of these countries sought to exhibit Asian prowess without violence. At the London [[1948 Summer Olympics]], a conversation started between China and the Philippines to restore the idea of the Far Eastern Games. [[Guru Dutt Sondhi]], the Indian International Olympic Committee representative, believed that the restoration of the Far Eastern Games would sufficiently display the spirit of unity and level of achievement taking place in Asian sports. He proposed the idea of a new competition – which came to be the Asian Games. The Asian Athletic Federation would eventually be formed. A preparatory committee was set up to draft the charter for this new body. On 13 February 1949, the Asian Athletic Federation was formally inaugurated in New Delhi, announced as the inaugural host city to be held in 1950.<ref name=FEG>{{cite web|title=亚运会是从什么时候开始举办的,每几年举办一次?|url=http://zhidao.wangchao.net.cn/detail_2890838.html |publisher=wangchao.org|access-date=14 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907015334/http://zhidao.wangchao.net.cn/detail_2890838.html|archive-date=7 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=亚运会的前世今生：前身远东运动会 中国成绩优异|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2010-08-04/04065133499.shtml|access-date=14 August 2010|publisher=Sina Corp|date=4 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202111615/http://sports.sina.com.cn/o/2010-08-04/04065133499.shtml|archive-date=2 December 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Years of crises===
[[File:Indian athletes at the First Asiad.png|thumb|[[1951 Asian Games|The first Asian Games]] opening ceremony]]

In [[1962 Asian Games|1962]], the Games were hit by several crises. The host country, Indonesia refused to permit Israel and Taiwan to participate due to [[Indonesia–Israel relations|political]] [[Indonesia–Taiwan relations|recognition]] issues. The IOC terminated its sponsorship of the Games and terminated Indonesia's membership in the IOC.<ref>{{cite news|title=Track: Asian Games Dropped By Olympics|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q3cjAAAAIBAJ&pg=738,3903294|access-date=14 August 2010|newspaper=Daytona Beach|date=23 August 1962}}</ref> The [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC),<ref>{{cite web|title=第4届 1962年雅加达亚运会 |url=http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFO.html |publisher=data.sports.163.com |access-date=14 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703111711/http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFO.html |archive-date=3 July 2011 }}</ref> [[International Association of Athletics Federations|International Amateur Athletics Federation]] (IAAF), and the [[International Weightlifting Federation]] (IWF) also removed their recognition of the Games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Penalty Dealt to Indonesia|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kMESAAAAIBAJ&pg=4386,3223549|access-date=14 August 2010|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicles|date=13 September 1962}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Warning|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=al8RAAAAIBAJ&pg=1306,4815390|access-date=14 August 2010|newspaper=The Age|date=30 August 1962}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

South Korea renounced its plan to host the [[1970 Asian Games]] on the grounds of a national security crisis; the main reason was due to a financial crisis. The previous host, Thailand, would host the Games in [[Bangkok]] using funds transferred from South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|title=第六届 1970年曼谷亚运会|url=http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFL.html |publisher=Data.sports.163.com|access-date=22 July 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703111556/http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFL.html|archive-date=3 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Japan was asked to host but declined the opportunity as they were already committed to [[Expo '70]] in [[Osaka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Thailand's Sporting Spirit|url=http://www.pattayamail.com/277/sports.htm#hd4 |publisher=Pattaya Mail Sports|access-date=22 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617051015/http://www.pattayamail.com/277/sports.htm#hd4|archive-date=17 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> This edition marked the Games' inaugural television broadcasting, worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=第六届 1970年曼谷亚运会|url=http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFL.html |publisher=data.sports.163|access-date=9 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703111556/http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFL.html|archive-date=3 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In Tehran, in [[1974 Asian Games|1974]], the Games formally recognized the participation of China, North Korea, and Mongolia. Israel was allowed to participate despite the opposition from the [[Arab world]], while Taiwan was permitted to continue taking part (as "[[Chinese Taipei]]") although its status was abolished in a general meeting on 16 November 1973 by the Games Federation.<ref>{{cite web|title=第七届 1974年德黑兰亚运会|url=http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFK.html |publisher=data.sports.163.com|access-date=9 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703111526/http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFK.html|archive-date=3 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Before the [[1978 Asian Games|1978 Games]], [[Pakistan]] retracted its plan to host the 1975 Games due to a financial crisis and [[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts|political issues]].<ref>{{cite web|title=第8届 1978年曼谷亚运会|url=http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFI.html |publisher=Data.sports.163.com|access-date=22 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703111453/http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQFI.html|archive-date=3 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Thailand offered to host and the Games were held in Bangkok. As in 1962, Taiwan and Israel refused participation by the Games Federation, amid political issues and security fears.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asian Games Federation says no to Israel|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v7seAAAAIBAJ&pg=1934,684691|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|date=3 June 1978}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Several governing bodies protested the ban. The [[International Olympic Committee]] threatened to bar the participating athletes from the [[1980 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=New Israeli rejection forces Asian athletes to risk Olympic hope|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WwMuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2171,3744052|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|date=22 November 1978}}</ref> Several nations withdrew before the Games opening.<ref>{{cite news|title=Indonesia, Hong Kong protest ban on Israel|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kP0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6027,3304995|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|date=4 December 1978}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Reorganization and expansion===
These events led the National Olympic Committees in Asia to revise the constitution of the Asian Games Federation. The Olympic Council of Asia was created in November 1981, excluding Israel and Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israelis facing Asian ban|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Rr4yAAAAIBAJ&pg=2948,6887134|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|date=10 December 1981}}</ref> India was scheduled to host in [[1982 Asian Games|1982]] and the OCA decided to maintain the old AGF timetable. The OCA formally started to supervise the Games starting with the [[1986 Asian Games]] scheduled for Seoul, South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympics|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ukIwAAAAIBAJ&pg=1683,4438561|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=Montreal Gazette|date=28 November 1981}}</ref> In the [[1990 Asian Games]] held in [[Beijing]], Taiwan (Republic of China) was re-admitted, under pressure by the People's Republic of China to compete as ''Chinese Taipei''.<ref>{{cite news|title=China welcomes Taiwan's AG trip|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_mYVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5130,1232701|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=Manila Standard|date=16 July 1988}}</ref>

The [[1994 Asian Games|1994 Games]] held in [[Hiroshima]] included the inaugural participation of the former 5 [[republics of the Soviet Union]] who were part of [[Central Asia]]: Kazakhstan, [[Kyrgyzstan]], Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It was also the first edition of the Games held in a host country outside its [[capital city]].<ref>{{cite web|title=第12届 1994年广岛亚运会|url=http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQDY.html |publisher=data.sports.163.com|access-date=9 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202025642/http://data.sports.163.com/match/history/0005000BBQDY.html|archive-date=2 December 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, [[National Olympic Committee of Iraq|Iraq]] was suspended from the Games due to the 1990 [[Persian Gulf War]]. [[Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|North Korea]] boycotted the Games due to political issues with the host country. The Games were hampered during the opening ceremony due to a heart attack that killed Nareshkumar Adhikari, the chief of the Nepalese delegation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Let the Games Begin|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QpsWAAAAIBAJ&pg=1694,953978|access-date=9 October 2010|newspaper=New Straits Times|date=3 October 1994}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The [[1998 Asian Games|1998 Games]] marked the fourth time the Games were held in Bangkok, Thailand. This time the city participated in a bidding process. The opening ceremony was on 6 December; the previous three were on 9 December. [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|King Bhumibol Adulyadej]] opened the Games; the closing ceremony was on 20 December (the same date as all the previous games hosted by Thailand).

[[File:IRAN Asain games medal 1974.jpg|thumb|1974 Asian Games medal]]