The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 will be held from September 10 to 25, 2022, according to the announcement released by Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Organising Committee (HAGOC), April 8. The Games will feature 37 sports including 28 Olympic sports and 9 non-Olympic sports.

Holding HAG 2022 during such a period is on account of various factors such as climatic conditions, festival atmosphere, etc., the staff ofHAGOC told the reporter.

Based on the observation of the meteorological data from 1971 to 2017 in Hangzhou, the period from September 10 to 25 sees a lower risk of natural disasters and has comfortable climate conditions, which is suitable for organizing large-scale eventsand beneficial for the athletes' achievement.

On the other hand, September 10 marks the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional festival celebrated by the Chinese people and some countries in East Asia and Southeast Asia. Therefore, it makes more sense to kick off on the day when people from countries all over Asia will unite in Hangzhou and share the joy of the event.

Compared with the 34 competitive items of HAG 2022 initially confirmed at the 36th Olympic Council of Asia held in September 2017, the 37 major competitive items released recently added equestrian sport as a new Olympic sport, and incorporate Dragon Boat as non-Olympic as a part of kayaking. Three non-Olympic sports, namely Kurash, jujitsu and cricket, are also included.

HAGOC will further discuss with OCA and Chinese Olympic Committee the subsequent arrangements by sports nature based on the new sports (street dance, competitive rock climbing, surfing, skateboarding) proposed by the Paris Organising Committee on February 21, and those suggested by OCA at the first meeting of the HAG 2022 Coordination Committee.

(Executive Editor: Yongliu HE)