The Asian Youth Games have been postponed until December 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers have announced.
The Games, which is organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), was scheduled to be held in Shantou city in China’s southern Guangdong province from November 20.
A Shantou government department in charge of sports affairs said on Chinese social media, citing an announcement from OCA, that the move was to “ensure the safety and health of athletes and all participants”,
The statement did not offer details on the reasons behind the delay but said the decision came after in-depth discussions among the Olympic Council of Asia, the Chinese Olympic Committee and a local committee responsible for organising the Games.
Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng said on Friday that officials should make sure the Winter Olympics to be held in China in February next year will happen on time.
“The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the COC and the local organizing committee had an in-depth discussion and made the decision together, in order to protect the interests of every national/regional Olympic committee and ensure the safety and health of all athletes,” the statement said.
Shantou won the right to host the 3rd Asian Youth Games in 2019. The Asian Youth Games are among the top five multisport events in Asia.