By Nick Butler

It was the final Coordination Commission meeting before the start of the Asian Games on September 19 ©OCAAn impression that everything is coming together nicely with little more than 100 days to go until the beginning of the Incheon 2014 Asian Games was given during the final Coordination Commission inspection.

The visit, by a delegation from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) led by Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda, were paying their eighth visit since the South Korean city was awarded the quadrennial Games in 2007, with just 110 days to go until the event is due to begin on September 19.

Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Incheon Hotel in the west of the city, yesterday's meeting began with opening remarks by Takeda, who is also head of Tokyo 2020. 

He began by offering condolences to the South Korean people for the Sewol ferry tragedy in April, which left more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, dead or missing.

But he also spoke positively, praising the increasing number of test events as more and more venues are completed, before insisting final preparations are "more meaningful and significant than ever".

He added this was especially so now all 45 Asian National Olympic Committees have confirmed they are taking part, a process concluded last month with the decision of the North Korean team to compete. 

Progress over the last month has also included the opening of the Main Stadium where both Ceremonies will be held ©Incheon 2014Progress over the last month has also included the opening of the Main Stadium where both Ceremonies will be held ©Incheon 2014








Takeda's words were echoed by Incheon 2014 secretary general Dr Kwon Kyungsang, who outlined how 34 test events had been conducted and another 18 remain in individual sports.

Of the 49 competition venues, 23 are new and 16 have been finished, with several sports having moved venues, including mountain biking from the Ganghwa course to another at Yeongjong Baegunsan following the voicing of military concerns over unexploded shells from the Korean War.

Construction of the Athletes' Village and Media Village is 94 per cent complete and is scheduled to be finished by June 30.

A joint drill is also scheduled to be held by the Organising Committee on August 19, in conjunction with national agencies, to practice approaches to disasters and terrorism.

Presentations by all 20 departments associated with various organisational aspects followed, with August 21 confirmed as the date of the draw for team sports and joint meeting of the technical delegates for the 36 sports, which will involve 439 events.

The next key stage will be the Incheon 2014 Torch Relay, set to begin with an international leg, starting at New Delhi on August 9, and a domestic leg at Mount Mani, Ganghwa Island, on August 13.

The two Flames will join on August 13 for a relay through 17 major cities and provinces in South Korea.

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