The spotlight turns today to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which is hosting the General Assembly meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). During the meeting, the leadership of OCA, the continental sports body behemoth, will be handed over to the State of Qatar, represented by His Excellency the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, ushering in a new era of development for Asian sports. Taking on the mantle of OCA’s hierarchical leadership, HE Sheikh Joaan is set to herald a new phase of prosperity for this long-standing Asian sports institution, based on an ambitious Qatari strategy that aims to achieve sustainable development through the organisation of state-of-the-art green sporting events, as well as digital transformation that broadly bets on integrating AI and cutting-edge technologies in athletes’ performances and sports facilities management. The Qatari presidency will mark the culmination of OCA’s pathway, which was established 77 years ago. Its headquarters is located in the State of Kuwait. Interestingly, the establishment of this council was the product of a long odyssey to advance Asian sports, starting with the creation of the Asian Games Federation and culminating in the formation of OCA, the largest continental sports body. This was achieved through two historic phases that shaped the contours of the sporting landscape across the largest continent in the world. The idea of organising alternative Asian Games, replacing the previous Far Eastern and West Asian Games, was proposed by the Indian Guru Dutt Sondhi, then President of the Indian Olympic Committee. Subsequently, the Asian Games Federation was founded on Feb 13, 1949, during a meeting held at Patiala House in New Delhi, India. The sublimest objective of this federation was to unify Asian athletes under one banner, and it discharged its responsibility of organising the Asian Games since their first edition in 1951. The Federation undertook this role for over three decades. With the need to advance the organisational structure and keep abreast of growing sports ambitions, a decision was taken to dissolve the federation, especially following the emergence of feuds and standoffs among the member states, triggering the urgent need for a sports authority with greater powers capable of controlling the Asian sports arena. The OCA was officially established on Nov 16, 1982, during the 9th Asian Games in New Delhi, becoming the sole legitimate representative of Asian National Olympic Committees. It comprises 45 member countries and organisations and is responsible for overseeing sport in Asia and co-ordinating member activities on both regional and global stages. Its mandate extends beyond the Asian Games to include the Asian Winter Games, with both events held every four years. Since its establishment, OCA has been spearheaded by key sports figures who shaped the course of Asian sport and strengthened Asia’s standing within the international Olympic movement. History records the late Kuwaiti Sheikh Fahad al-Ahmed al-Sabah as the spiritual founder of the Council, having led the transition from the Asian Games Federation to the OCA. As the first President, he laid strong institutional foundations and selected Kuwait as the permanent headquarters until his death in 1990. Following the passing of Sheikh Fahad al-Ahmed al-Sabah, Roy de Silva of Sri Lanka assumed the role of Acting President of OCA during a transitional period from 1990 to 1991, playing a vital role in maintaining OCA’s cohesion and ensuring the continuity of its activities amid one of the region’s most challenging political crises. He was succeeded by Sheikh Ahmed al-Fahad al-Sabah of Kuwait, who served as President of OCA from 1991 to 2021, marking the longest and most influential presidency in the Council’s history. During his three-decade tenure, OCA evolved into a major continental sports institution, with the launch of the Asian Indoor Games, Asian Winter Games, and Asian Beach Games, alongside strengthened Asian influence within the International Olympic Committee. In September 2021, Sheikh Ahmed stepped down, and Randhir Singh of India assumed the position of Acting President. Although Sheikh Talal Fahad al-Ahmed al-Sabah was elected President in July 2023, Singh remained Acting President following the Executive Board’s endorsement of the IOC Ethics and Compliance Commission’s recommendation to annul the 2023 election results. In September 2024, Randhir Singh was elected President of OCA for a four-year term, becoming the first Indian to hold the post. However, due to health issues, he chose not to complete his term, prompting the opening of nominations for an early presidential election on July 15, 2025, for which HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani emerged as the sole candidate, making his assumption of the presidency a matter of time. During its 77-year-long journey, OCA has proven day after day its role as a powerful driving force for Asian sports, committing itself to strengthening Olympic values and providing a fair and motivating competitive environment for millions of Asian athletes.
