ASIAN GAMES

regional games sponsored by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) for men and women athletes (track and field) from Asian countries affiliated with the IAAF. The International Olympic Committee also grants its patronage. The first games were held in 1951 at New Delhi; from 1954 they were held every four years. The early games had political difficulties. Pakistan objected to the site of the first games, and the People's Republic of China objected to the participation of the Nationalist Chinese from Taiwan. The People's Republic objected again in 1962 to the inclusion of the Nationalist Chinese, and the latter were excluded, but the People's Republic did not participate. In the same games the Arab states objected to the participation of Israel, which was also excluded. In 1966 Israel competed, as did the Nationalist Chinese, in the games held in Thailand, but there was an Arab boycott; there were also riots at these games. In 1963 the Asian communist countries had formed GANEFO (Games for the New Emerging Countries), which held games without IAAF approval in 1966 and 1969. In general, GANEFO performances were better than those of the Asian Games. In the 1970s the communist countries rejoined the games. Japan dominated competition in the games until the 1980s, when strong teams were fielded by South Korea and China; the latter was the top gold medal winner in the 1982 and 1986 games.