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Afghanistan May Take Part in Asian Games This Year, Official Says
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
(7:56 AP)
The Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- AP
Afghanistan may take part in the Asian Games in South Korea later this year, an organizing official said.

Jung Chung Il, the deputy secretary-general of the games' organizing committee, said officials from the Olympic Council of Asia told him that Afghanistan will send a contingent to the games, the Malaysian national news agency, Bernama, reported.

"That's the word from OCA ... but we have not had any contact with Afghanistan yet," Jung was quoted as saying by Bernama.

The Asian Games will be held in Busan, South Korea, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14. Officials expect 7,000 athletes and 4,000 officials to participate in 420 events covering 38 sports.

Jung was speaking on the sidelines of the Association of National Olympic Committees general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

He said that Afghanistan would have until Aug. 31 to submit entries for the games, the Asian version of the Olympics.

Torn for years by civil strife and war, Afghanistan last participated in the Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994.
(FOX Sports News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan