Taking risks through the pandemic
At the time of worldwide COVID 19 spreading, organizing committees of international sports events are taking the risks of canceling or postponing many competitions.
Despite this, during the Technical Committee Conference for Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2021 on 4 November 2020 at Sports Authority of Thailand, the dates and location for the sixth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) confirmed. 2021 is a time for Thailand to host the Games between 21 to 30 May in Bangkok and Pattaya (Chonburi province).
In 2013, Asian Indoor Games and the Asian Martial Arts Games were merged to form AIMAG.
AIMAG is a pancontinental multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from all over Asia. It has organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
AIMAG has already held two times – in Incheon, Korea in 2013, and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in 2017.
The program of AIMAG consists of 28 sports and two demonstration sports
Twenty-eight sports count Cue Sports, Indoor Athletics, Dance Sport, Bowling, Chess, Futsal (Men and Women), Roller Sports/Sport Climbing, Muay, Short Course Swimming (25m), Jujitsu, BMX Cycling, Hoop Takraw/Speak Takraw, Floorball, Kurash, Netball, Indoor Hockey, Taekwondo, Karate, Badminton, Pencak Silat, E-Sport, Cheer Leading, Sambo, Indoor Rowing, Indoor Volleyball (Men and Women), Basketball 3×3 (Men and Women), Kickboxing and Traditional Wrestling.
Demonstration sports include Air Sport (Indoor Drone) and Teqball (the combination of soccer’s elements and table tennis played on a curved table).
Over the past decades, Thailand has hosted many OCA events to guarantee the sixth AIMAG 2021 will succeed.
After all, due to the pandemic, many questions are still uncertain
How many countries will be able to participate? How will the organizing committee protect different target groups (athletes, officials, staff, spectators) from the virus spreading? The program includes contact sports that can increase the risk of COVID 19 transmission and indoor events considered to be less ventilated than outdoor… How will the organizing committee manage that?
Other factors must also be considered to hold the Games successfully.
Additionally, to participate, all international federations need to prove their handbooks and entry forms.
However, together with the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, the organizing committee will do their best to make this event happen.
Sukritha Yongwanichkultana, the DTM alumni from Thailand, will be in charge of organizing Asian Indoor Games 2021 as a member of the Technical Committee, department of elite sports.
Currently, Sukritha works for the Technical Committee of Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2021, Sports Authority of Thailand, and she cooperates with sports4world.com
