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11th Asian Summer Games: Beijing 1990

2004-03-27 12:49 COC

Date: 22 September-07 October 1990
Host City: Beijing
Country: China
NOCs Participating: 36
Athletes: 6,122
Sports: 29
Disciplines: 27
Events: 310

The 11th Asian Games, also known as XI Asiad, were held from September 22, 1990 to October 7, 1990 in Beijing, China. It was the first large-scale international sports event to be held in the People's Republic of China.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) lost its president, Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah, during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. This was the most shocking news surrounding the 11th Asiad.

The OCA headquarters were temporarily moved to the United Kingdom, where Mr. Muttaleb Ahmad was independently carrying out his duties as Director General.

After the liberation of Kuwait in 1991 the OCA HQ was re-established. Beijing overcame these and other crisis to be remembered as one of the best Asiad in the history.
 
A total number of 6,122 athletes, coming from 37 countries and regions, competed in 29 sports. Debuting sports were softball, sepak takraw, wushu, kabaddi and canoeing.

Seven world records (6 in archery, 1 in cycling) and 89 Asian records were broken, while one world record and eleven Asian records were equalled in the Beijing Asiad. The games served as a pre-cursor to China's further development in the sporting arena, as the country went on to bid for the 2000 Summer Olympics and then won the bid for the 2008 Olympics. 

As the host country, China demonstrated her pride and strength by winning nearly 60% of the gold medals (183), securing her stand as the Asian super-power in sports. Following China in gold medal tally were Korea with 54 and Japan with 38.

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