The 19th Asian Games will start in September this year, but the Olympic Council of Asia has invited Russia and Belarus to participate in the Asian Games.

The picture shows the logo of the Asian Games.

(AFP)

[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] The 19th Asian Games in 2022, which has been postponed due to Wuhan pneumonia (new coronavirus disease, COVID-19), will hold the opening ceremony in Hangzhou, China on September 23 this year. The current Asian Games are a bit special, because the Asian Olympic Council announced on Thursday (26th) that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to participate in this Asian Games, although the two countries are not Asian countries.

Based on reports from the South China Morning Post and Agence France-Presse, against the background of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are banned from participating in most sports events, or can only participate in a neutral capacity, but the Olympic Council of Asia said on Thursday , has invited Russia and Belarus to participate in this year's Asian Games as the first step for athletes from the two countries to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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"All athletes, regardless of their nationality or passport, should be able to compete in sports," the Olympic Council of Asia said in a statement.

The Chinese Olympic Committee also expressed its position afterwards, supporting the appearance of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Asian Games. Bei Junqi also agreed, but when Bei Junqi was asked whether it was unfair to other Asian players to allow Russian and Belarusian players to compete, he replied "sports is competition".

Ukraine does not rule out a boycott in protest if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to go to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadim Guttsait said on Sunday.