OCA Meeting Ends; Lindberg Laments Stockholm Withdrawal - On the Scene

VP: Meeting Aids Recovery Effort

Jejomar Binay, vice president of the Philippines, told delegates that holding the OCA General Assembly in Manila will help with the country’s recovery efforts from Typhoon Haiyan.

Binay made the keynote opening address on Saturday. The meeting was originally scheduled for Borcay last November but had to be rescheduled following the devastating storm.

"Let us not limit this event to sports," Binay said.

"This event is for the whole country."

He also noted "the profound role sports can play in the recovery efforts."

Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, made a donation to Jose Cojuangco, his Philippines counterpart, for recovery efforts in the Philippines.

The one-day meeting began in earnest following Binay’s speech. Few noteworthy decisions came out of the meeting other than awarding the rights to stage the 2015 General Assembly in Ashgebat, Turkmenistan and the 2016 edition in Cambodia.

Sports drink Pocari Sweat became a sponsor of the 2014 and 2019 Asian Games.

Most of the day was spent on organizing committee reports, including

Around the Rings understands that one issue the OCA is working to resolve is the participation of North Korea in the Asian Games. The event is taking place South Korea. An OCA official told ATR the North Koreans have "not yet" submitted their paperwork to compete, with the deadline having already passed.

Lindberg Sad Over Stockholm Decision

Swedish IOC member Gunilla Lindberg laments the decision for Stockholm to withdraw from the 2022 bid race.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly on Saturday, she said "we had a very good concept" and that Sweden would bid again for the Olmypics.

"I’m not going to mention a year," she said "but we have an Olympic dream."

On Friday, the Stockholm city council rejected the bid, forcing the bid to be aborted.

With Stockholm’s withdrawal only Almaty, Beijing, Lviv, Krakow and Oslo remain in the race.

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