Doha: In a display of Qatar’s sporting leadership, the eyes of the Asian continent will turn on Monday (January 26), to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, where the State of Qatar will participate in the 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia.
This participation comes at a highly anticipated historical moment, culminating in the announcement of the election of Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani as President of the Olympic Council of Asia, thus beginning a new chapter of development and progress for the world’s largest regional sports organization.
More than 350 sports officials from 45 Asian National Olympic Committees and delegates from dozens of international organizations will participate in the agenda of the Olympic Council of Asia’s General Assembly.
The Assembly will review the latest developments regarding two Asian Games: Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and Sanya 2026.
Attendees will also review reports from the organizing committees of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for September 19 to October 4, and the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, from April 22 to 30.
The organizing committee for the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games “Riyadh 2026,” scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from February 8 to 10, will present an update on its preparations. The 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is scheduled to begin with a welcoming address by Mr. Timothy Fook Tsun Ting, First Vice President of the OCA and President of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, followed by an address from His Excellency Dr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and President of the Uzbek National Olympic Committee.
During the General Assembly, the minutes of the 45th OCA General Assembly, held in Kuwait on May 11 and 12 of last year, will be approved, and reports from the regional vice presidents will be reviewed.
In preparation for hosting the OCA General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan has been undertaking extensive preparations to ensure the event’s success. Authorities aim to use this occasion to showcase the latest developments in the country’s sports infrastructure and its capacity to host events, under the slogan “We are not just hosting a meeting, we are showcasing the future.” Uzbekistan is experiencing a historic turning point in its journey toward establishing itself as a regional and global sporting powerhouse, following a series of unprecedented sporting successes and a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul.
Uzbekistan has achieved a sporting breakthrough at both the regional and global levels, whether in terms of international participation, competitive results, or infrastructure investment, as part of a long-term strategy aligned with the country’s sports policy.
Among the most notable competitive achievements is Uzbekistan’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, its first-ever appearance in the tournament, and its 13th-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Uzbekistan also secured medals at youth and Paralympic events in 2025.
One of the infrastructure projects completed in Uzbekistan last year was the Olympic City, a multi-stadium sports complex that opened in August 2025. This site was chosen as the main venue for the 4th Asian Youth Games, scheduled for 2029. In 2026, the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, will host a series of international tournaments, including the World Triathlon Championships in Samarkand (April 25-26), the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand (September 15-28), and the World Swimming Championships in Tashkent (October 8-10).
In a related development, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), in cooperation with the Uzbekistan Olympic Committee, hosted a dinner this evening for the delegations participating in the OCA General Assembly, currently being held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
The atmosphere at the dinner was particularly positive, given the presence of the presidents of the National Olympic Committees of the member countries, which contributed to strengthening cooperation among the various sports leaders in Asia.
