ALL FUN AND GAMES

Celebrating the 18th edition of the Asian Games

THE 2018 ASIAN Games, officially known as the XVIII Asiad, is the single largest sporting event in Asia governed by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). It was held in

Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia between 18 August ‒ 2 September 2018, with 465 events across 40 sports and disciplines.

Tissot lent its expertise to the 18th Asian Games Jakarta Palembang 2018 as its

Official Timekeeper. Much like the renowned timepiece brand, the Asian Games has a rich history dating all the way back to 1951, representing the oldest and most prestigious event in the calendar of the Olympic Council of Asia. In essence, Tissot and the Asian

Games share many of the same values such as tradition, precision and passion.

The partnership adds on to Tissot’s illustrious portfolio of forging numerous timekeeping partnerships throughout the years. The alliance between Tissot and the dynamic world of sports was forged in its early days. Tissot entered the field of sports timekeeping in 1938 to become a key player in the championships. It has since provided timekeeping services to some of the world’s most important multi-discipline sporting events. Among them are the Summer and Winter Universiades, the biggest international multi-sport events for student athletes, in 2013, the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and the Asian Games in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2018.

For the first time ever in history, the Asian Games were co-hosted in two cities; the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, as well as Palembang, the capital of the South Sumatra province. The events were held in and around the two cities, including venues in Bandung and some places in the provinces of West Java and Banten. Also for the first time, eSports and canoe polo were contested as demonstration sports.

With well over 11,000 athletes, from 45 nations, the 2018 Asian Games is recognised as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.

Having dominated the Asian Games ever since they topped the medals table for the first time in Delhi back in 1982, the 2018 Asian Games marks the 10th time in a row that China has finished at number one, with a total of 289 medals (132 gold, 92 silver, 65 bronze). In the last edition of Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, China finished with a total of 345 medals (151 gold, 109 silver, and 85 bronze). At the Asian Games 2010 held, on home soil, China bagged 416 medals (199 gold, 119 silver, 98 bronze).

In an awe-inspiring display of unity, the 18th Asian Games also witnessed North and South Korea marching together at the opening ceremony, forever etching its mark in the history of inter-Korean relations. The athletes even learnt a thing or two about each other: one South Korean basketball player said she realised that North Koreans aren’t “scary” after all.

The 2018 Asian Games concluded with China winning the most number of medals, followed by Japan and South Korea. AM