(ATR) Athletes from Oceania will be eligible to compete at the 2017 Asian Winter Games, but will not be able to medal.
A statement from the Olympic Council of Asia today confirmed the inclusion of athletes from Australia, New Zealand and other Oceania National Olympic Committees for the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games. Athletes had been conditionally included in the Games by the OCA, but required final approval from the Sapporo organizing committee.
The 2017 Asian Winter Games, which will feature five sports and 64 events, are scheduled to take place on Feb. 19-26, 2017.
According to the OCA, the Oceania competitors will be considered "guest athletes," and will be ineligible to receive medals, and Oceania countries will not be able to compete in team events.
The Asian Winter Games will be the first of two events the OCA is hosting in 2017 that will feature Oceania athletes. Oceania athletes had already been confirmed to participate in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.
"We would like to thank the organizing committee in Sapporo for approving this proposal at short notice," Husain Al Musallam, OCA Director General, said in a statement. "We look forward to an even more competitive Asian Winter Games just one year before the next Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea, in 2018."
Media Deadline Extended
With the inclusion of new athletes in the 2017 Asian Winter Games, the OCA has extended the media registration deadline for the event.
Originally, media had until Oct. 31 to register for credentials to the event. As a result of the expansion of the Games, journalists now have until Nov. 11 to register.
Journalists worldwide have until the new deadline to register, not just media outlets from the Oceania region.
Written by Aaron Bauer
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