Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), along with other leading members of the Olympic family, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, whereby allowing the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) take part in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), due Turkmenistan in 2017.
The OCA said in a statement, released on Saturday, that the two sides signed the MoU, late on Friday, thus allowing the 17 ONOC member committees along with OCA member commissions, numbering 45, participate in the games, due in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat.
The signing of the MoU means the fifth edition of AIMAG will feature 62 competing nations, 24 of which will come from the Oceania region. Up to 8,000 athletes and officials are expected to come to Ashgabat for AIMAG 2017, making it one of the largest multi-sports event in the world.
Speaking at Friday's ceremony, held in Turkmenistan, Sheikh Ahmad said the signing of the agreement demonstrates "solidarity and unity between two continents" and begins "a new page" in the history of his organisation.
"This is an historic moment for the OCA for a number of reasons," he added. "Not only will we be joined by elite athletes from the Oceania region for the very first time at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, but this will also be the first occasion that the Games are held in central Asia and the first time that Turkmenistan has hosted a major sporting event of this calibre."
Source: KUNA