The difference between Asian Games and Olympics

The 15th Asian Games is to run from Dec. 1-15 in Doha, capital city Qatar attracting 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions of the world's largest continent.

As the biggest regional comprehensive sports event, what distinguish Asian Games from the world's most flamboyant sports pageant the Olympic Games?

The Asian Games sets up more disciplines than the Olympics and allows more athletes to take part.

The Doha games features 51 events, which will produce 423 gold medals, compared with the 28 events and 302 golds to be offered at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Some local-flavor sports thus have the chance to enter the games.

Doha Asian Games boasts a few "firsts". It is the first one hosted by a middle east Arabic country, the first time to register a number up to 45 countries and regions, and the first time for chess and triathlon to touch rollout.

The Asian Games is more flexible in venues selection compared with the Olympic Games, for which the hosts usually are put under great financial pressure to build high-profile match venues.

It is a different story for the Asian Games. The 2010 Asian Games host city Guangzhou of China has decided to put most the matches and training grounds in university stadiums in its layout scheme.

The Asian Games and Olympic Games alternate on two-year basis, so the Asian Games is functioning as a preparation for the Olympic Games for Asian athletes.

Some Asian sports powerhouses, like Chinaand Japan have announced to send some of their young athletes to compete in Doha. China reserves some top athletes including Olympic champions Xing Huina (track and field), Luo Xuejuan (swimming) and women's table tennis world No. 1 Zhang Yining. NBA Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will also miss the games.

China, who has dominated the games in the past 30 years, has made it clear that the games is a warmup event for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The Doha games will unveil the mystery of the Gulf peninsula country and also present the world a modernized Arabic soil with typical Islamic tradition.

Source: Xinhua