Proposal to Change Asian Games Schedule to Match Olympic Cycle

Apr 27, 2026, 06:51

Introduction

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is considering moving the Asian Games from even-numbered years to odd-numbered years starting in 2031. This change aims to better coordinate the event with the Summer Olympics.

Main Body

The proposed plan involves changing the timing so that the Asian Games take place in the year before the Olympics. According to reports from Xinhua and Inside the Games, the OCA executive board has approved this idea, and they will now discuss it further with international sports federations. Under this new system, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games will happen as planned, but the 2030 Doha and 2034 Riyadh Games would be moved to 2031 and 2035. From a strategic point of view, the OCA asserted that this change would allow the Asian Games to serve as a way for athletes to qualify and prepare for the Olympics. Song Luzeng, vice president of the OCA, emphasized that this shift would give top athletes more opportunities for high-level competition, which could improve the overall quality of the Games. Furthermore, this would bring the Asian Games in line with other regional events, such as the African, European, and Pan American Games, which already follow a pre-Olympic schedule. Additionally, the proposal aims to solve the problem of too many major events happening at the same time. Currently, even-numbered years are crowded with global events like the FIFA World Cup and the Winter Olympics. By moving to odd-numbered years, the OCA hopes to reduce this overlap. However, some critics have raised concerns about the transition, specifically the five-year gap that would occur between the 2026 and 2031 Games.

Conclusion

The OCA is currently reviewing the move to an odd-year schedule to improve athlete preparation and reduce calendar crowding, depending on the results of discussions with global sports organizations.

Vocabulary Learning

coordinate (v.)

organise / to arrange or manage the different parts of a plan or activity協調；安排

Example:The OCA will coordinate the Asian Games with the Olympic schedule.

executive (adj.)

relating to high-level management or decision-making / pertaining to top-level managers執行的；行政的

Example:The executive board approved the proposal.

overlap (n.)

a situation where two events happen at the same time / a period of commonality重疊；重合

Example:The new schedule aims to reduce the overlap of major sports events.

strategic (adj.)

relating to planning for long-term goals / involving careful planning策略性的；戰略性的

Example:From a strategic point of view, the change could benefit athletes.

transition (n.)

the process of changing from one state to another / a change in condition過渡；轉變

Example:The five-year transition between the Games raised concerns.

Sentence Learning

Under this new system, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games will happen as planned, but the 2030 Doha and 2034 Riyadh Games would be moved to 2031 and 2035.

Passive: The verb phrase 'would be moved' is in the passive voice, where the subject (the Games) receives the action of being moved.被動語態: 動詞片語 'would be moved' 以被動語態呈現，主語（Games）承受被動動作。

Song Luzeng, vice president of the OCA, emphasized that this shift would give top athletes more opportunities for high-level competition, which could improve the overall quality of the Games.

Relative Clause: The clause 'which could improve the overall quality of the Games' provides additional information about 'high-level competition'.關係子句: 子句 'which could improve the overall quality of the Games' 為 'high-level competition' 提供額外資訊。

However, some critics have raised concerns about the transition, specifically the five-year gap that would occur between the 2026 and 2031 Games.

Linking Word: The word 'However' introduces a contrast between the previous idea and the critics' concerns.連接詞: 'However' 用於引入與前述想法相對的批評者關注，表達對比。

The OCA is currently reviewing the move to an odd-year schedule to improve athlete preparation and reduce calendar crowding, depending on the results of discussions with global sports organizations.

Subordinating Conjunction: The phrase 'depending on' introduces a subordinate clause that explains the condition under which the review will proceed.從屬連接詞: 'depending on' 引入一個從屬子句，說明審查進行的條件。