Russian and Belarusian Athletes to Participate in Hangzhou Asian Games

Hangzhou Huanglong Sports Center in China, where the Asian Games will be held.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has approved the participation of 500 athletes from Russia and Belarus in the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled for this September.

According to Kyodo News on the 8th (local time), the OCA took this measure to assist Russian and Belarusian athletes, who have been unable to participate in international competitions for about a year since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February last year, in securing qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

However, athletes from the two countries participating in the Hangzhou Asian Games will not be allowed to use their national flags and can only compete in individual events. Medals will likely not be awarded based on their results.

The Hangzhou Asian Games are scheduled to be held from September 23 to October 8.

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