The COVID-19 pandemic has played spoilsport again as the Asian Games has been postponed by nearly a year.
The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which will feature esports as a medal event for the first time, has been rescheduled to Sept. 23 - Oct. 8, 2023, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced. The Asiad was initially supposed to happen from Sept. 10 to 25. It was postponed, however, due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in China.
What sets this Asian Games apart from all the other ones is that it has something for esports audiences as well. Countries will be able to field teams across eight games and earn medals which will add to the overall tally. These games are as follows:
- Arena of Valor Asian Games version
- Dota 2
- Dream Three Kingdoms 2
- EA Sports FIFA
- Hearthstone
- League of Legends
- PUBG Mobile Asian Games version
- Street Fighter V
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OCA explains the decision to postpone the Asiad by a year
The Asian Games have been pushed back by a year, and the OCA has explained this decision in a press release. It said that a task force was created after the decision to postpone the event was taken. This Task Force has been communicating with different bodies and stakeholders to find a window to host the prestigious sporting competition which doesn’t clash with other international events.
Thus, the tournament will now be held from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, 2023.
