2017 Asian Winter Games

VIII Asian Winter Games
Host city Sapporo, Japan
Opening ceremony February 19, 2017
Closing ceremony February 26, 2017
Officially opened by Emperor Akihito
Main venue Sapporo Dome

The 2017 Asian Winter Games is the third Asian games that will be hosted in Sapporo, Japan. These Games were originally scheduled for 2018. However, in the Olympic Council of Asia's general assembly in Singapore on July 3, 2009, the committee decided to move the Games one year before the Winter Olympic Games.

Sapporo and Obihiro were named as the host cities on January 31, 2011, as sole bidding city. The hosting contract was signed by Tsunekazu Takeda, the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee.[1] It will be third time that Sapporo hosting the event and fourth time in Japan. Previously the city was held the Games in 1986 and 1990, and Aomori was held in 2003.

Bid

On January 31, 2011, Sapporo was awarded the right to host the Games. The decision was announced in OCA's general assembly during the 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana, Kazakhstan.[1] The bid was announced by Mayor Fumio Ueda on January 15, 2011, with no other bidding city.[2] The total cost is expected to be ¥3.5 billion.[3]

Nations in participating plans

The Vietnam Olympic Committee plans on sending a team to these games by inviting Vietnamese-Canadian and 2011 Canadian Junior champion in figure skating Nam Nguyen to compete for them.[4] If Vietnam does compete, it will make its Asian Winter Games debut.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia plans on expanding on 2011's team of Figure Skating and Ice Hockey with the formation of the Malaysian Ski Association. If Malaysia puts forwards athletes from the Malaysian Ski Association, it will be Malaysia's debut in the Nordic/Alpine world.

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sapporo, Obihiro named 2017 Winter Asiad co-hosts". Japan Today. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  2. ↑ "Asian Games: Sapporo making bid for Asian Winter Games". Deccan Chronicle. 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  3. ↑ "Asian Games: Sapporo to host 2017 Asian Winter Games". The Mainichi Daily News. 2011-01-15. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  4. ↑ Hung, Minh (2011-02-25). "Canada’s ‘Super Nam’ glides toward Olympics". Thanh Nien News. Retrieved 2011-02-28.