The President of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee, Kim Young Soo, said the attention of the sports world had switched from London to Incheon now the dust has settled on the 2012 Olympic Games. Speaking at the 5th OCA Coordination Committee meeting for the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, on Friday, the IAGOC President said his organising team had learned a lot from observation visits to the London Olympics and 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, China, in June.

“All eyes are on Incheon after the Olympic Games,” he told the meeting in his introductory address. “This meeting is more important and more meaningful than ever.  “We have learned lessons from London, Haiyang and from previous Asian Games, and we will use this experience to prepare efficiently and economically.

“The 17th Asian Games will integrate sport, culture and Information Technology. It will be a festival and display the harmony of 4 billion Asians.” The Secretary General of IAGOC, Kwon Kyung Sang, outlined the major developments in preparations, including the signing of Korean Air as a Prestige Partner.

The 17th Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, 2014, and feature 437 events in 36 sports. Organisers will use 49 competition venues, 23 of which will be new. Of those, 17 are under construction and six are under design. The new Main Stadium, with a capacity of 61,074, is due to be completed by April 2014 and will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics.

IAGOC expects to produce 100,000 accreditation cards, including 20,000 athletes, officials and media from the 45 Asian NOCs and 20,000 volunteers. They will also appoint the symbolic figure of 2,014 torch bearers from all walks of life for the torch relay. Incheon will prepare for the 17th Asian Games in 2014 by hosting the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games from June 29 to July 6, 2013, with 100 events in nine sports and around 2,400 athletes.

Source: ocasia.org