Rogge Says Guangzhou Shows Growth of Sport in Asia

(ATR) IOC President Jacques Rogge tells Around the Rings in Guangzhou that the swelling of the Asian Games to rival the Olympics in size is a reflection of "the rise of the continent".

Rogge spoke to ATR shortly before heading to Friday night’s opening ceremony for the 16th Asian Games, running through Nov. 27. Rogge’s visit will last through Sunday.

Attending his third Asian Games as IOC President, Rogge says the Asiad’s growth is directly linked to the increased success of Asian athletes in international sport, a trend he says became noticeable at the Athens Olympics.

"It’s a new continent on the rise. You had good results from China, good results from Thailand, good results from Korea, good results from Japan. And this was confirmed four years later in Beijing, 100 medals for China, 51 gold.

"It’s a continent that reflects in sport the fundamental basic economics: Asia is the continent of the new economy. They have the demography. They have the ambition to grow," Rogge says.

China, as it has since 1982, is expected to lead the medal table, especially before a hometown crowd in Guangzhou. But

Rogge says he expects other nations in Asia, such as India and Korea, will begin to challenge that dominance.

Among the continental games, the Asian Games are now the biggest, with 42 sports on the program in Guangzhou. But Roggeis adamant that the size of the Asian Games program is not proof that the Olympic program should exceed the current 28 sports.

fit with our vision of universality. Secondly, there is a cap on the number of sports you can have on the program, otherwise you become too big, too costly," says Rogge.

"That will never happen under my stewardship," he vows.

"We have to be reasonable. There are more sports on the Asian Games program because there are more sports local to Asia. There are a number of sports on the program that are not universal, world sports.

"We don’t want to have regional sports because that doesn’t

And despite touting the growth of Asia sports, the IOC president, understandably, would not express any favoritism for a host for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The three city field includes two European candidates, Annecy and Munich – and one from Asia, PyeongChang.

"I have to remain neutral. I’m totally relaxed. Whoever wins will be able to stage very good Games. We are dealing with three sophisticated countries. Three very strong countries in sport," he says.

Is it Asia’s turn?

"That’s something I would ask the IOC members. I would not make any comment on that," says the IOC leader after a careful pause.

Written and reported in Guangzhou by Ed Hula.

ATR coverage of the Guangzhou Asian Games

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