The Olympic Council of Asia has approved the proposal of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand to hold the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Games on Nov. 17 to 26, 2023.
In an official communication, OCA acting president Raja Randhir Singh acknowledged the Thailand NOC’s request to postpone the 6th AIMAG, which was originally set for March 10 to 19 next year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The OCA fully understands and respects the decision of the NOC Thailand, TAIMAGOC, and the Royal Thai Government,” said Singh in his letter to Gen. Prawi Wongsuwon, president of Thailand NOC.
In the same document, Singh also confirmed the new dates for the 6th AIMAG, which will now be held two years beyond its original schedule.
“Please be informed of our support and cooperation in organizing a very successful 6th AIMAG in Bangkok and Chonburry in November 2023,” Singh added.
The AIMAG is held every four years and is one of the most highly anticipated multi-event sports competitions in Asia. The last time it was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, the Philippines came home with a medal haul of two golds, 14 silvers, and 14 bronze medals.
That finish overshadowed the one-gold, two-bronze performance of Filipino athletes in the previous AIMAG held in 2013 Incheon, South Korea.
Major competitions have been either postponed or scrapped when the COVID-19 virus began its onslaught in 2020.
The 2019 Philippine ASEAN Para Games was canceled in early 2020.
The next Para Games is again in danger of being scrapped as Vietnam is reportedly not keen on hosting the sports competition for the differently-abled athletes.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was reset to July 23 to August 8 of this year.
The 2021 Southeast Asian Games, to be hosted by Vietnam, has been rescheduled from December 2021 to May 2022.