The annual event was initially due to be held in the capital city on September 7 and 8, but this clashed with the annual meeting of the Council of Elders of Turkmenistan, a major meeting of all high-level Government officials.

A change was requested by the National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan, with September 13 and 14 now allocated for the arrival of delegates before an OCA Executive Board meeting the following day.

An inauguration ceremony followed by a welcome dinner will take place that evening, before the Assembly itself is held on September 16.

It will follow last year's event held in Incheon during the Asian Games last September.

The 2013 General Assembly was held in Manila in January 2014 following a postponement caused by the devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines three months earlier.

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

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.

In 2017, the gas-rich nation will host the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, an event expected to be especially historic because, as well as the 45 OCA members, all 17 Oceania National Olympic Committees members have been invited to expected to compete.

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