Doha Asian Games feature more disciplines than Athens Olympics

From humble beginnings in 1951, the Asian Games have blossomed to become the second largest sporting event in the world, only superseded by the Olympic Summer Games.

However, in some respects, the 15th Asian Games will be even greater than the Olympics. Doha 2006, for example, will feature 46 disciplines across 39 sports in 424 events, while the Summer Olympics feature 35 disciplines across 28 sports producing a little less than 400 events.

Doha will host more than 10,500 athletes from 45 countries and regions and their exploits will be beamed to a potential worldwide audience of three billion.

When the long trek to Doha 2006 began 55 years ago few would have believed that the event would become so important. The first Asian Games New Delhi 1951 featured just 11 countries competing in six sports. The first sports programme featured athletics, aquatics, basketball, cycling, football and weightlifting.

But the chance to compete on a continental level quickly attracted many countries and regions for the second Asian Games Manila 1954 and 19 countries and regions competed in eight sports.

The programme dropped cycling but added boxing, shooting and wrestling.

The Games’ growth continued apace and the third Asian Games Tokyo 1958 welcomed 1,422 athletes competing in 13 sports, with tennis, volleyball, table tennis, cycling and hockey joining the programme.

Tokyo also marked the first Torch Relay, adding ceremonial panache to the proceedings. Japan, hosting the event for the first time, continued its domination of the Games by topping the medals table.

The fourth edition took place in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta and the number of participating countries and regions briefly fell to 16. India made a triumphant return to the lofty heights in the medal table, finishing second as they had done at the first Games 11 years earlier.

The Games then began a period of growth that continues to this day. Bangkok hosted the Games in both 1966 and 1970, finishing third in the medals table at both events, with Japan first and Korea second at both events. In the 1966 event, 18 countries and regions sent 2,500 athletes. Meanwhile, in 1970 there were 2,600 athletes represented and sailing made its debut.

The West Asia became an Asian Games location for the first time at Tehran 1974, with the Games once again growing in size and importance. There were now 25 countries and regions participating.

Fencing and gymnastics were added to the list of sports for the first time, sailing was dropped, and for the seventh consecutive Asian Games, Japan finished at the top of the medal table.

Thailand showed its enduring enthusiasm to play host to its Asian cousins once again for the 8th Asian Games Bangkok 1978. Archery and bowling were added to the programme, and sailing was revived, boosting the number of competitors to more than 3,800 athletes.

Japan again finished top of the medal table, but China and Korea were closing the gap and Japanese domination approached its end.

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