AKIPRESS.COM - The Olympic Council of Asia has cancelled the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Bangkok-Chonburi 2021 as the AIMAG Organising Committee  was unable to satisfy the criteria requested in the Host City Contract by the latest deadline of Monday, August 19, 2024 17:00 Bangkok time, the Olympic Council of Asia says.

The AIMAG Organising Committee presented a progress report to the  43rd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok last May in which it was promised that all Games requirements as per the  Host City contract would be ready by July 2024.

At an emergency meeting held on Thursday, August 15, 2024, the OCA Executive Board unanimously agreed to cancel the Games  unless the AIMAG Organising Committee satisfied nine conditions needed to guarantee the hosting of the Games by Monday, August 19, 2024, 17:00 Bangkok time. With those conditions not met by the deadline, the OCA had no choice but to cancel the Games .

The OCA expresses its sincere sympathies to the athletes who were due to compete at the AIMAG and recognises the significant impact this decision will have on them. Despite numerous attempts made by the OCA to ensure the Games could go ahead, it was clear that it would not be possible and the OCA cancelled the event in the best interests of the athletes and all stakeholders. The OCA will follow up with the respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to ensure the athletes receive the support they require.

The OCA Executive Board also unanimously agreed that if Thailand wishes to host the AIMAG after the next edition, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2026, it can apply as per normal procedure to the OCA.

The 6th AIMAG was scheduled to take place on November 21-30, 2024 after it was postponed several times due to the Covid pandemic and then a change of government in Thailand.