22 sports proposed for 1998 Asiad

22 sports proposed for 1998 Asiad

HARBIN, China (Kyodo): The 1998 Bangkok Asian Games Organizing Committee proposed the staging of 22 sports, down by 12 from the 34 sports featured at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said yesterday.

To be included among the 22 sports during the 15-day event starting Dec. 6 will be rugby and billiards-snooker, according to the committee.

The OCA and the committee will continue to discuss the number and content of the events to be held in Bangkok.

Earlier in the day, Thailand's intention to stage the Bangkok Asiad was reconfirmed at the OCA Executive Board meeting.

The OCA had threatened to strip Bangkok of the right to stage the 13th Asiad for the city's lack of preparation for the games.

But Thailand conveyed its intention to stage the event to the OCA headquarters in Kuwait early last month.