The Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium is lit up during the Asian Games opening ceremony on Sept. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
As the Hangzhou Asian Games concludes on Sunday, organizers said that priority has now shifted to ensuring that Asiad venues are accessible to the public.
HANGZHOU, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Responding to speculation on the possibility of Hangzhou hosting future Olympic Games, an official with the Hangzhou Asian Games organizing committee (HAGOC) said on Sunday that the primary consideration now is how to make Asiad venues accessible to the public.
"Various international sports organizations have given us high marks, believing that our current facilities meet the requirements for hosting large-scale international events, including the Olympics," said Chen Weiqiang, the Executive Secretary General of HAGOC.
Hangzhou has been lauded for excellent facilities and overall organization for the Asiad, and the city has been discussed as a potential future candidate to host the Olympic Games.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Oct. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)
"Our primary consideration is how to make more venues accessible to the public. As for whether we will host the Olympics or not, we have not yet thought about it," Chen said on the last day of the Asian Games.
Wei Jizhong, Olympic Council of Asia Honorary Life Vice President, expressed that as the world enters the era of the digital economy, the success of the Hangzhou Asian Games "has provided the OCA with an opportunity to establish basic criteria for upcoming Asian Games."
"I would rate the Hangzhou Asian Games 99 out of 100. Why 99? There is always room for improvement," said Wei.
OCA Acting Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari was full of praise for the Hangzhou Games.
"Technically, we have had one of the best Asian Games ever. The standard of the Games has been very, very high. We are very happy with it." ■
