OCA Coordination Committee Meeting, Bali 2008 14-01-2008

A group of experts from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have concluded a assessment in the organization of the Bali 2008, 1st Asian Beach Games, after the OCA Coordination Committee Meeting held in Bali, Indonesia on 14-15 January.  OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam, chairing the meeting on behalf of OCA President Sheihk Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, praised BABGOC progress since the last assessment in Bali. “We (OCA and the Asia Games organisers) will try to work together as a team to the successful organization of the Games, and I am looking forward to the upcoming events of the 1st Beach Games, including the test events, the Chef-de-Mission meeting in June,” said Husain Al-Musallam.

BABGOC Director General and President of the Indonesian Olympic Committee Rita Subowo welcomed OCA Executive Board members, and representatives from MAIGOC and Oman Olympic Committee (hosting the 2nd Asian Beach Games) support and participation in the OCA Coordination Meeting, which provided valuable input for the organization of the Bali 2008, 1st Asian Beach Games.

Aside from the OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam, other experts assessing the progress of BABGOC include also Mr Wei Jizhong (OCA Sports Committee Chairman), Dr. Jegathesan (OCA Medical Committee Chairman), Mr Manuel Silverio (OCA Media Committee Chairman), Ms Yuko Arakida (OCA Athletes Committee Chairman), and Mr Haider Farman (OCA Asian Games Manager), Mr. Vinod Tiwari (OCA International & NOC Relations Manager).  Participants in the meeting include representatives from Bali 1st Asian Beach Games Organising Committee (BABGOC), Macao 2nd Asian Indoor Games Organising Committee (MAIGOC), Oman Olympic Committee, and the 26th Southeast Asian Games – Indonesia.

With the aim to create a ‘festival of Asian culture and sports’, the Asian Beach Games will also contribute to OCA efforts in encouraging young people to sports practices.  The inaugural edition of the Bali Asian Beach Games, to be held between 18 and 26 October this year, will be the first Beach multisport Games ever held in the world, offering a vast array of 17 beach and water sports, including Beach Handball, Beach Kabaddi, Beach Sepaktakraw, Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Body Building, Dragon Boat, Jetski Sport, Marathon Swimming, Paragliding, Sailing, Surfing, Triathlon, Windsurfing, Woodball, Beach Wrestling, Pencak Silat.

MAIGOC Chairman and OCA Media Committee Chairman Manuel Silverio led a MAIGOC delegation to Bali in participation of the OCA Coordination Committee Meeting and the special session of Transfer of Knowledge Meeting to share the experiences in different areas garnished at the 2nd Asian Indoor Games held in Macau last year, including Hospitality, Protocol, IT, Marketing, Linguistics Services, Media Services, and TV Broadcasting.  The meeting was held between MAIGOC, BABGOC, and the Oman Olympic Committee.

A working Group from the OCA will be visiting Bali again in April 2008 to further assist and guide BABGOC in the organization of the first ever Asian Beach Games.