Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, speaks throughout a press convention in Nagoya, central Japan.
| Picture Credit score: AP
The president of the Olympic Council of Asia acknowledged on Saturday (September 19, 2026) that politics — within the type of a welcoming ceremony involving Taiwan — had already entered into the Asian Video games.
He didn’t sound happy about it, talking simply hours earlier than the official opening ceremony on Saturday (September 19, 2026).
Some occasions on the Asian Video games started a number of days in the past to accommodate a packed schedule and greater than 17,000 athletes and officers. As much as 5,000 are housed on a cruise ship.
“I do not suppose, you recognize, the politicians or politics ought to be concerned in sports activities,” mentioned Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, talking with media on the Asian Video games.
He’s the youthful brother of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani.
Mr. Sheikh Joaan was requested about an incident on Friday (September 18, 2026) on the Asian Video games wherein Taiwan’s sports activities minister, Lee Yang, was quickly barred from a welcoming ceremony and a flag-raising.
Mr. Lee was later allowed to take part and the OCA attributed the incident to a misunderstanding.
“We do not combine sports activities with politics and we have already got,” Mr. Sheikh Joaan mentioned.
“We’ll take — if one thing like this may occur, we now have our approach of caring for it. And all of the delegations know what the protocol is and what ought to be finished, and what should not be finished.” Mr. Lee is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in badminton. He received gold twice in doubles — 2020 and 2024 — every time defeating a Chinese language pair within the remaining.
Taiwan competes within the Asian Video games and the Olympics below the title of Chinese language Taipei and with out its flag because of China’s declare on the island off its east coast.
Taiwan media reported the OCA had issued an order barring Mr. Lee. Taiwan media report added that Taiwan officers requested to see the order however officers have been unable to supply it.
“We selected to stay to our ideas,” Chen Shih-kwei, a vice-president of the Chinese language Taipei Olympic Committee, mentioned.
“We requested the native organising committee and the OCA to uphold the Olympic spirit, in order that we may attend all occasions equally and with dignity,” Mr. Chen added. “We insisted on this, after which negotiations started. We stood agency on our dignity and ideas.”
Mr. Lee later advised Taiwanese reporters that “we’re doing our greatest to safeguard our rights and don’t need to be subjected to any type of suppression”. “We additionally hope extra Taiwanese athletes can carry out at their finest and provides their all on the video games in order that Taiwan will be extra seen on the worldwide stage.”
Revealed – September 19, 2026 03:52 pm IST
