New Dates for the Asian Games

Apr 27, 2026, 06:51
AsiaSports
A2

New Dates for the Asian Games

Introduction

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) wants to change the dates of the Asian Games. They want the games to happen in odd years starting in 2031.

Main Body

The OCA wants the Asian Games to happen one year before the Olympic Games. The 2026 games will stay the same. But the 2030 games will move to 2031. The 2034 games will move to 2035. This change helps athletes. They can practice and compete before the Olympics. Other sports games in Africa and Europe already do this. There are too many big sports events in even years. For example, the World Cup happens in even years. Moving the Asian Games to odd years gives more space in the calendar.

Conclusion

The OCA is talking to other sports groups now. They want to help athletes and fix the sports calendar.

Vocabulary Learning

calendar (n.)
a system of arranging days for events日曆；行事曆
Example:Moving the Asian Games to odd years gives more space in the calendar.
change (v.)
to make different / alter something改變；調整
Example:The OCA wants to change the dates of the Asian Games.
games (n.)
competitive events / activities where people play to win比賽；遊戲
Example:The Asian Games will be held in 2031.
practice (v.)
to train or rehearse regularly練習；訓練
Example:Athletes can practice before the Olympics.
sports (n.)
physical activities that involve competition體育；運動
Example:Other sports games in Africa and Europe already do this.

Sentence Learning

But the 2030 games will move to 2031.
連接詞: 'But' 表示兩個想法之間的對比。
They want the games to happen in odd years starting in 2031.
時間: 'in 2031' 指示事件發生的時間。
The OCA wants the Asian Games to happen one year before the Olympic Games.
介詞: 'before the Olympic Games' 表示相對於另一事件的時間。
The 2026 games will stay the same.
主謂賓: 這句話使用簡單的主語-動詞-賓語結構。
The OCA is talking to other sports groups now.
現在進行時: 'is talking' 表示此刻正在進行的動作。
B2

Proposal to Change Asian Games Schedule to Match Olympic Cycle

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。
C2

Proposal to Realign Asian Games Schedule with Olympic Cycle

Introduction

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is considering a transition of the Asian Games from even-numbered to odd-numbered years, beginning in 2031, to better synchronize the event with the Summer Olympics.

Main Body

The proposed restructuring involves shifting the event's timing so that it occurs in the year immediately preceding the Olympic Games. According to reports from Xinhua and Inside the Games, the OCA executive board has approved the concept, which will now undergo further consultation with international sports federations. Under this framework, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games would remain on schedule, while the 2030 Doha and 2034 Riyadh editions would be deferred to 2031 and 2035, respectively. From a strategic perspective, the OCA suggests that this realignment would allow the Asian Games to function as a qualifying and preparatory mechanism for the Olympics. Song Luzeng, vice president of the OCA, indicated that such a shift would provide elite athletes with high-level competition opportunities, potentially elevating the overall standard of the Games. This model would align the Asian Games with other continental multisport events, such as the African, European, and Pan American Games, which already operate on a pre-Olympic cycle. Furthermore, the proposal addresses the issue of calendar congestion. Even-numbered years currently host a high density of major global events, including the FIFA World Cup and the Winter Olympics. By moving to odd-numbered years, the OCA aims to mitigate this overlap. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the transition period, specifically the potential five-year interval that would exist between the 2026 and 2031 editions. Analytically, the success of this transition depends on the outcome of negotiations with international sports federations and the ability of host cities to accommodate the rescheduled dates. While the OCA has expressed support for the move to enhance athlete preparation, the logistical impact of the extended gap between 2026 and 2031 remains a point of consideration.

Conclusion

The OCA is currently evaluating a shift to an odd-year schedule to optimize athlete preparation and reduce calendar congestion, pending further discussions with global sports governing bodies.

Vocabulary Learning

congestion (n.)
overcrowding / a state of overcrowding or blockage, especially in traffic or schedules擁塞
Example:Calendar congestion is a major concern, as many major sports events occur in even-numbered years.
consultation (n.)
discussion / a formal meeting or dialogue to seek advice or make decisions諮詢
Example:The OCA will hold a consultation with international sports federations before finalising the new timetable.
deferred (adj.)
postponed / delayed to a later time延後
Example:The 2030 Doha Games were deferred to 2031 to avoid clashing with the Winter Olympics.
qualifying (adj.)
determining eligibility / serving as a test or criterion to determine eligibility確定資格的
Example:The Asian Games will serve as a qualifying event for athletes aiming to compete in the Olympics.
restructuring (n.)
reorganization / the act of reorganising or altering the structure of something重組
Example:The restructuring of the Asian Games schedule aims to align it with the Olympic cycle.

Sentence Learning

According to reports from Xinhua and Inside the Games, the OCA executive board has approved the concept, which will now undergo further consultation with international sports federations.
Relative Clause: The clause 'which will now undergo further consultation with international sports federations' modifies 'concept' and provides additional non‑restrictive information, introduced by the relative pronoun 'which'.定語從句: 句子中的 'which will now undergo further consultation with international sports federations' 是一個非限制性定語從句，修飾名詞 'concept'，提供額外資訊，由相對代詞 'which' 引導。
Under this framework, the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games would remain on schedule, while the 2030 Doha and 2034 Riyadh editions would be deferred to 2031 and 2035, respectively.
Contrastive Conjunction: The conjunction 'while' introduces a contrast between two clauses: the 2026 Games will stay on schedule, whereas the 2030 and 2034 Games will be postponed.對比連詞: 連詞 'while' 連接兩個子句，表達前後對照關係，前句說 2026 年賽事將按時進行，後句說 2030 和 2034 年賽事將被推遲。
The OCA suggests that this realignment would allow the Asian Games to function as a qualifying and preparatory mechanism for the Olympics.
Conditional Clause (would): The clause 'would allow' expresses a hypothetical or future conditional effect of the realignment, using the modal verb 'would' to indicate a potential outcome.條件從句（would）: 子句 'would allow' 表示實現調整後可能產生的假設性或未來結果，使用情態動詞 'would'。
By moving to odd-numbered years, the OCA aims to mitigate this overlap.
Participial Phrase: The phrase 'By moving to odd-numbered years' is a participial phrase functioning as an adverbial modifier, indicating the means or method by which the OCA intends to mitigate overlap.分詞短語: 片語 'By moving to odd-numbered years' 作為狀語，說明 OCA 透過何種方式來緩解重疊。
The OCA is currently evaluating a shift to an odd-year schedule to optimize athlete preparation and reduce calendar congestion, pending further discussions with global sports governing bodies.
Infinitival Clause: The infinitival clause 'to optimize athlete preparation and reduce calendar congestion' serves as the complement of the verb 'evaluating', specifying the purpose of the evaluation.不定式短語: 不定式短語 'to optimize athlete preparation and reduce calendar congestion' 作為動詞 'evaluating' 的補語，說明評估的目的。