Kuwait City, Kuwait, July 12, 2023: The newly elected OCA President, Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has confirmed his full support for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China this September.

In his first letter to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee Executive Secretary General and Vice Mayor of Hangzhou, Mr. Chen Weiqiang, dated July 11, Sheikh Talal expressed his appreciation for the "excellent presentation" by HAGOC during the 42nd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok on July 8.

Sheikh Talal said: "With a little over two months to the start of the 19th Asian Games, it is important for the OCA and HAGOC to work closely in the coming weeks so that we can stage one of the best and most successful Asian Games to the world in September 2023."

The OCA President said the OCA was involved in two projects before the 19th Asian Games, which will run from September 23 to October 8.

The first is the OCA Youth Camp in Hangzhou to promote Asian Games history, culture and education; the second is a joint project with the National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran – an exhibition of China's first participation in an international sports event at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. The OCA Official Library will be the exclusive appointed organiser for those two projects. 

Sheikh Talal added: "In order to further promote Asian Games history and offer a great Asian Games legacy in Hangzhou, I have decided that the OCA will donate the torches of all previous Asian Games to the Hangzhou Asian Games Museum during our 110-year Anniversary Celebration which will be held in the evening of September 24, 2023.

"The OCA appreciates your hard work and that of the entire HAGOC team. Please be assured that I will continue supporting the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou."

In other business from OCA HQ:

*Sheikh Talal has congratulated the Asian Electronic Sports Federation on the hosting of the AESF-Tencent Global Esports Summit in Shenzhen, China on July 14 and said esports had brought a "new vitality" to the sports scene in Asia. 

The OCA President is looking forward to esports making its Asian Games debut as an official medal sport in Hangzhou after being a demonstration sport at Jakarta in 2018.

Sheikh Talal also noted that esports has been included among the 41 sports for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi/Nagoya, Japan in 2026, and looks forward to continued cooperation with AESF.

*Sheikh Talal has congratulated the sponsors of the 19th Asian Games on holding their fourth sponsors' conference. He said HAGOC and the sponsors has done a "tremendous job" in promoting the Asian Games, Hangzhou city and the corporate brands.

*The OCA President has thanked China Mobile Communication Group, a Prestige Partner of the Hangzhou Asian Games, for their support and said their advanced 5G network services will make a major contribution to the success of the Asian Games.

*Intel has become the Official Supplier of Graphics Processing Unit for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. Sheikh Talal said Intel's futuristic technology perfectly echoes the Asian Games motto of "Heart to Heart, @Future". "I am absolutely delighted to see Intel working side by side with the Olympic Council of Asia to realise a more successful Asian Games. I look forward to even more cooperation in the future."