More than 12,000 athletes will take part in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, organizers announced on Thursday.
"Among the 45 member National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), 43 have completed their sports entry procedures. On average, each NOC will compete in 24 sports and each sport will have participants from 23 NOCs.
"It is estimated that some 12,000 athletes will participate in the Guangzhou Asian Games, outnumbering all previous Asian Games," said Li Naizhen, executive vice director of sports department of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC).
Li said that any member NOCs of the OCA can register to compete in any sport of the Guangzhou Asian Games. There will be no qualifying matches and limitations on the number of participant teams.
Thus far, 43 out of the 45 member NOCs of the OCA have completed their sports entry procedures - with only Afghanistan and East Timor yet to submit their entry forms.
The number of NOCs that will be participating in boxing, shooting, judo, weightlifting, and wrestling is nearly equal to that of the Doha 2006 Asian Games.
The number of teams that will compete in aquatics, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, archery, tennis, table tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey and water polo will increase in 2010.
Fifteen NOCs have entered Dance Sport (Ballroom Dancing), making it the hottest new event. Ten NOCs have entered Dragon Boat competition including Iran. Eight NOCs have entered Roller Sports. Ten NOCs have entered Weiqi including China, South Korea, and Japan and 12 NOCs have entered chess including the United Arab Emirates and Tajikistan.
According to entry information, China, Japan and South Korea will field the three largest sports delegations at The 16th Asian Games.
As the host nation of 16th Asian Games, China will enter 40 sports (or events) with its largest Asian Games team ever, estimated at 1,000 athletes.
Japan is expected to send a team of more than 900 athletes competing in 42 sports (or events), and South Korea is expected to send a team of 965 athletes competing in 40 sports or (events) excluding Kabbadi and Cricket.
