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The Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) held a press conference on October 14th to announce 42 events composed of 464 competitions (with one competition to be confirmed) for the 16th Asian Games. Of all the 42 events, six were newly-added ones including dancesport, dragon boat racing, roller skating, weiqi (go), Chinese chess and cricket.

Li Naizhen, Deputy Director of the Sports Department of GAGOC, introduced that the dragon boat race, as a traditional sport, has been popular in China and Southeast Asia. Guangzhou hosts the International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament annually. Weiqi and Chinese chess which both enjoy a long history in China and have won great popularity in East Asia and such countries as China, South Korea and Japan boast first-class players of weiqi. Dancesport is favored by both the young and old. Roller skating is also very popular with the youngsters. Cricket which has enjoyed a long history has spread to every corner of the world. It is popular in South Asia and has embraced rapid development in China in recent years.

Li said that such factors as international practices, events at the previous Asian Games, sporting venues and urban planning have been taken into consideration by GAGOC to set the 42 events. Although some events are not popular in the world, yet priority has been given to the traditional sports popular in Asia, such as karate, soft tennis and weiqi in East Asia, cricket and kabaddi in South Asia, cue sports and sepaktakraw in Southeast Asia and equestrian and chess in Middle and West Asia.

Tian Xinde, Deputy Secretary-General of the GAGOC, Director of the Sports Department of GAGOC and Deputy Director of the Sports Bureau of Guangdong Province, said the only competition which hadn't been confirmed was equestrian-endurance due to problems concerning venues.

Most of the 42 events are to take place in Guangzhou. Foshan is to host boxing and synchronised swimming. Weight lifting and sailing are to take place in Dongguan and Shanwei.

(Source: GAGOC)