Following an Executive Board meeting and an official welcome dinner hosted by TNOC on September 15, the Assembly itself will take place on September 16.

A replacement for Sri Lanka to host the 2017 Asian Youth Games will be among items on the programme, as well as the composition of sports appearing at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

A host for the 2022 or 2023 Asian Games could also be selected following an expression of interest by Chinese city Hangzhou earlier this month.

“It is a real honour to be hosting the OCA General Assembly in Ashgabat," said TNOC secretary general Azat Muradov.

"We have a rich and diverse culture here in Turkmenistan and we look forward to welcoming the diversity of the Asian continent in September.

"Under the leadership of the OCA, our continent is more united through sport and the OCA General Assembly is very important in bringing us all together as we work towards our common future.

"There will be many important decisions made during the General Assembly and we are working hard to ensure that we provide a professional but also relaxing atmosphere for our guests.”

The event, due to be attended by OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, will be a major opportunity for Turkmenistan as it seeks to establish itself as an influential player in Asian sport.

For some of the delegates of the 45 NOCs due to attend it will be the first time they have visited the Central Asian nation.

They will also have an opportunity to visit some of the venues that will be used for the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in 2017, where 17 members of the Oceania National Olympic Committees are due to also compete. 

More than 5,000 athletes from 62 countries are scheduled to compete across 21 sports during the Games.

“We are very excited about welcoming our friends from the OCA to Ashgabat next month," added AIMAG 2017 Executive Committee chairman, Dayanch Gulgeldiev, whose team is also assisting in the preparations for the OCA General Assembly.

"We want to use sport to open our country up to the world and hosting international events and meetings is an excellent way of doing that.

"We also want to use the occasion as an opportunity to show the Asian NOCs our preparations for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in 2017.

"We are working in close collaboration with the OCA to ensure that we deliver a world-class event which provides a lasting legacy for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan and the surrounding region.” 

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