Asian Games to switch cycle from 2019: report

Asian Games organisers are poised to switch the quadrennial event from 2018 to 2019 to avoid clashing with the Commonwealth Games in the future.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia's (OCM) general secretary told Friday's Malaysian Star newspaper that the decision had been taken by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

"The council decided that the Asian Games should not be held the same year with the Commonwealth Games because it did not benefit the athletes," Sieh Kok Chi said.

"It will be difficult for the Asian athletes to peak twice in a short period of time in two multi-sports Games."

This year's Commonwealth Games is being held in New Delhi from October 3-14 and Asian athletes will also be involved in the Asian Games in Guangzhou from November 12-27.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow while the 2014 Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea.

Hosts for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2019 Asian Games have yet to be decided.

The OCA also believed there were too many other major events held in the Asian Games year, Kok Chi said.

"Besides the Commonwealth Games, there is the (soccer) World Cup, World Cup hockey and also the world basketball championships," he added.

Staging the Asian Games a year after the Commonwealth Games would provide the perfect opportunity for athletes to qualify for the Olympics, which would be held the following year.

"The Olympics have a one-year qualifying period for athletes in individual events," Kok Chi said. "The Asian Games will be held in either September or October (2019) while the Olympics will be held in August (2020)."

Malaysia have ruled out a bid to host the 2019 Asian Games on financial grounds.