Director-general of the Olympic Council of Asia Husain Al-Musallam thanked the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee for its preparatory work undertaken throughout the pandemic at the online Chefs de Mission Seminar on Sept 8.

"I am sure that the organizing committee has done a great job in the preparation of these important games in terms of sport venues, the operation and planning for the best environment for the athletes coming from Asia and Oceania," he said.

"In this regard I would like to thank all the members of the organizing committee, and especially the volunteers, for their hard work and commitment over the past two difficult years. We now see Hangzhou city is ready to host the best Asian Games ever."

Delegates also learned that Hangzhou 2022 will feature 40 sports, 61 disciplines and 482 events that will be contested in 55 competition venues. There will also be 31 independent training venues.

Organizers reported that they had sent a team of experts and observers to learn from the pandemic prevention measures adopted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and will also gain experience from the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics next February in drawing up their own requirements for Hangzhou 2022.

Liu Xin, mayor of Hangzhou and vice-president of HAGOC, said Hangzhou has the "confidence, resolve and capability" to deliver a successful Asian Games with safety and security as the top priorities