OCA president praises Hangzhou's preparations for Asian Games

Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, inspects the soon-be-completed Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, the main venue for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Nov 22. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), praised Hangzhou's preparatory work for the 2022 Asian Games during his visit to the city, which is the capital of Zhejiang province, on Nov 22.

After inspecting the soon-be-completed Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center, the main venue for the 2022 Asian Games, Ahmad gave his thumbs up to the construction of the complex.

Compared with the last visit, the preparatory work for the Asian Games has made great headway with a green and eco-friendly concept, said Ahmad, adding that he is convinced that Hangzhou will present to the world a spectacular and successful feast of sport in four years' time.

Dubbed the "Giant Lotus" by locals, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center covers an area of 29 hectares and will be able to seat 80,000 people.

"I hope the 2022 Asian Games can be built into a benchmark for the hosting of a green, smart, economical and civilized sports event, and bring a successful conclusion to that year," Ahmad said.

Hangzhou is the third Chinese host of the continent's showpiece sports event after Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.