Olympic Council of Asia: History, Role & Asian Games
Who brings Asian countries together and organizes the continent’s largest multi-sport event, helping to keep the Asian Games at the heart of the Asian continent? The answer’s the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
But the OCA is about much more than organizing the Asian Games. It is a key factor in facilitating the unification of Asian countries through sport, providing assistance to sportspersons, NOCs and advocating the Olympic values on the continent.
OCA — also known as the Olympic Council of Asia — is the ensemble of the Asian continent’s National Olympic Committees. It’s an independent, private, not-for-profit sports organisation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), as well as the 46 NOCs which it represents from across the Asian continent.
Olympic Council of Asia at a Glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Olympic Council of Asia |
| Abbreviation | OCA |
| Established | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Kuwait |
| Member NOCs | 45 |
| Current President | Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani |
| Director General | Husain Al Musallam |
| Main Continental Event | Asian Games |
| Asian Regions | East, Central, South, Southeast & West Asia |
| 2026 Asian Games | Aichi-Nagoya, Japan |
What Is the Olympic Council of Asia?
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is a sports body of Asia, which links the sports bodies of various Asian countries as National Olympic Committees.
On a basic level, the OCA is a giant bridge for Asian countries’ National Olympic Committees (NOCs), athletes, and sports groups to link to one another and the sports events at the continental stage.
The OCA is an arm of the Olympic Movement, and its bylaws recognize its jurisdiction over OCA Games and OCA activities. Its mission is to advocate for fair and clean sport to contribute to a peaceful and improved Asian society, sport ethics, gender equality in sport, safe sport, sustainability, and to combat doping and manipulation in sports contests.
How many members does OCA have?
Currently, there are 46 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that are members of the OCA. In OCA General Assembly, each members NOC will have one vote.
Why Was the Olympic Council of Asia Created?
To understand why the OCA exists, it helps to look at the history of sport in Asia. Before today’s Asian Games existed, different parts of Asia held their own regional competitions. The Far Eastern Championship Games began in Manila in 1913, while the West Asian Games were held from 1934 to 1938.
Asian National Olympic Committee leaders decided in London in the Olympic Games of 1948 to merge these separate games into a single continental Games known as Asia Games. This decision resulted in the establishment of the Asian Games Federation in 1949 in New Delhi, India. The first ever Asian Games took place in 1951 in New Delhi, India, two years later. The Games were then on a quadrennial basis, with four years in between.
Later, the Asian sports movement transformed to the Olympic Council of Asia. The formation of the OCA was decided at the Asian Games Federation Council meeting held in New Delhi on November 26, 1981. The first OCA Constitution was adopted in November 1982, and the OCA was recognised by the IOC in 1983.
Olympic Council of Asia History: From 1913 to 2026
The history of the OCA is intricately linked with that of the Asian Games.
1913 — Far Eastern Championship Games
The Far Eastern Championship Games, celebrated in Manila, Philippines the first time in 1913 is the starting point of the Asian multisport movement.
1934 — West Asian Games
It was subsequently decided in 1934 to organize West Asian Games; the inaugural Games took place in New Delhi, India.
1948 — Asian NOCs Decide to Unite
During the London Olympics in 1948 the leaders of the Pan Asian NOCs decided to merge the numerous regional sporting competitions into one continental competition.
1949 — Asian Games Federation
The Asian Games Federation was established in New Delhi.
1951 — First Asian Games
In 1951, Asian Games were held for the first time in New Delhi in India.
1981 — Decision to Form the OCA
Asian sports leaders decided to modernise and restructure the Asian Games Federation into the Olympic Council of Asia.
1982 — OCA Headquarters Moves to Kuwait
The headquarters shifted from New Delhi to Kuwait in 1982 and the headquarters are still located there.
The OCA was formally constituted on 16 November 1982 in New Delhi during the 9th Asian Games, taking over from the Asian Games Federation, which was dissolved. Seoul 1986 became the first Asian Games staged under the OCA. See the full Asian Games host countries list.
2002 — Korean Peninsula Unity
The Korean Peninsula flag was carried by North and South Korea at the Busan Asian Games, serving as a symbol of unity and peace through sport.
2018 — Historic Unified Korean Achievement
It was at the Asian Games in Jakarta that North and South Korea joined forces under the same banner – the Korean Peninsula – and collected the first-ever gold medal in the history of the Asian Games.
2026 — A New Era for the OCA
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar was elected President of the Olympic Council of Asia at the 46th OCA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in January 2026. He delineated an agenda for “Together for Asia” characterized by solidarity and development, athleticism, and good governance.
What Does the Olympic Council of Asia Actually Do?
The organization does much more than simply put the Asian Games on the calendar.
1. Organizes and Oversees Major Asian Games
The Asian Games are the flagship continental multisport event of the OCA.
The OCA collaborates with host countries, organizing committees and the National Olympic Committees to prepare and host the Games.
2. Brings 45 Asian NOCs Together
The OCA provides a continental platform for 45 Asian National Olympic Committees.
Its General Assembly gives each member NOC one vote, regardless of how many representatives attend.
3. Develops Sport Across Asia
The OCA’s objectives include supporting the development of sport and encouraging the growth of sporting opportunities throughout Asia.
This helps create opportunities for athletes and strengthens the sporting infrastructure and movement across the continent.
4. Promotes Olympic Values
The OCA’s constitution emphasizes Olympism, fair and clean sport, sport ethics, equality, safe sport and sustainability.
5. Fights Doping and Competition Manipulation
Clean sport is an important part of the OCA’s responsibilities.
It also has its own constitution, which clearly stipulates that doping and manipulation of sports competition is a priority target of the organization.
6. Supports Athlete Welfare and Safe Sport
In addition, the modern OCA includes safe sport and athlete-centred principles to support the broader transformation in the management of sport.
Who Is the President of the Olympic Council of Asia?
The current President of the Olympic Council of Asia is H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, who succeeded Raja Randhir Singh in 2026.
He started serving as President on January 26, 2026 at the 46th OCA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The assembly was attended by all the 45 Asian NOCs.
Sheikh Joaan is also President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and a Senior Vice President of the ANOC.
45 Olympic Council of Asia Member NOCs
There are 46 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the membership of the OCA.
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- People’s Republic of China
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Hong Kong, China
- India
- Indonesia
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- Iraq
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Republic of Korea
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Lebanon
- Macau, China
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Tajikistan
- Chinese Taipei
- Timor-Leste
- Thailand
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
What Is the Olympic Council of Asia’s Role in the Asian Games?
The relationship between the OCA and the Asian Games is one of the most important things to understand.
The Asian Games are not simply an event created by a host city. They operate within the OCA’s continental sports framework.
Olympic Council of Asia and Asian Games 2026
2026 is a landmark year for the OCA, with the 20th Asian Games taking place in Japan.
Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Asian Games 2026 will run from 19 September to 4 October 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is the 20th edition, with all 45 OCA member NOCs expected to compete across 43 sports. See the full Asian Games 2026 participating countries list.
The Games slogan is “IMAGINE ONE ASIA” and the official mascot is HONOHON, both reflecting the OCA motto of “Ever Onward”.
What Other Games Does the Olympic Council of Asia Organize?
The Asian Games are the largest OCA event, but the council also runs several other continental Games.
The OCA’s current Games program includes several major events.
| OCA Event | Example |
| Asian Games | Aichi-Nagoya 2026 |
| Asian Beach Games | Sanya 2026 |
| Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games | Riyadh 2026 |
| Asian Youth Games | Bahrain 2025 |
| Asian Winter Games | Harbin 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Olympic Council of Asia?
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is the umbrella sports body for Asia. It brings together the continent’s 46 National Olympic Committees and organises continental events such as the Asian Games.
What does OCA stand for?
OCA stands for Olympic Council of Asia, the continental association of Asia’s National Olympic Committees, headquartered in Kuwait.
Which year was the Olympic Council of Asia created?
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) was established in 1982 when the Asian Games Federation was restructured into the Olympic Council of Asia. The OCA Constitution came into effect in November of 1982.
The president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is?
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani from Qatar, is the current President of the OCA. Elected in Tashkent, Uzbekistan at the OCA General Assembly on 26 January 2026.
What number of members are there in the Olympic Council of Asia?
The Olympic Council of Asia is made up of 45 OCA members + 1 Refugee Team (46 total) National Olympic Committees from the various Asian countries and territories of the five Asian Regions.
Final Thoughts
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is the continent’s sports body which unites all 45 Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and plays a pivotal role in the Asian Games and other major sport events organized by OCA. Since 1982, the OCA has worked to create sport and establish fair competition, and to make Asian athletes and nations closer.
With Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani at the helm and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on the horizon, the OCA is entering a new chapter. Whether you are an Asian Games fan or simply follow Olympic sport, understanding what the OCA does makes it easier to appreciate how the continent’s biggest sporting events come together.
