Sports are important for the emotional and physical well-being of all people. Sports may assist youngsters not only build their bones and muscles but also improve their academic performance and they get to learn the importance of teamwork.
Sport can help us to stay physically fit, boost our immune system, and even promote socialism among people. As a result, many countries have begun to hold sporting events such as the Olympics, Common Wealth Games, Asian Games, Cricket and Football Championships, and so on, in recognition of the importance of sports.
Olympics vs Asian Games
The difference between the Olympics and Asian Games is that in comparison to the Olympics, Asian Games are more regulated and allow for more competitors to compete. In addition, unlike the Olympic Games, which put a lot of financial strain on the hosts to create top-of-the-line match sites, the Asian Games provide for more versatility in match venue selection.
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The Olympics are a major international sporting event that includes summer and winter sports events in which many participants from all over the world compete in a range of activities. Other than these two there are two more categories of the Olympics for the specially abled people; the first one is the Special Olympics is for those with intellectual disabilities, the second is the the Paralympics is for people with any disability, including physical disabilities.
Every four years, the Olympics are held in which the Winter and Summer Olympics alternate every two years in the four-year cycle for the Olympics.
Asiad, commonly referred to as Asian Games, is a four-year international sports event that brings competitors from all around Asia together. AGF organized the Asian Games from their 1st games in New Delhi, India, until their last games in 1978.
As a result of the dissolution of the Asian Games Federation in 1982, the Asian Games are now arranged by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). It is acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the second largest multisport event following the Olympics.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Olympics | Asian Games |
|---|---|---|
| First event | 1896 (Modern Olympics) | 1951 |
| Purpose | To cultivate human beings, through sport, and contribute to world peace. | Multi-sport event for nations in Asia |
| Motto | “Faster, Higher, Stronger…Together.” | Ever Onward |
| Winner of the first debut sport event | United States (1896) | Japan (1951) |
| Symbol | The Olympic rings | A red sun with 16 beams and a white circle in the center of its disc |
What is Olympics?
An international sporting event called the Olympics brings together athletes from around the world once every four years. It includes a variety of Summer and Winter games, and all of the competitors compete in the hopes of bringing glory upon themselves and their country, as well as a gleaming gold medal.
Champions did not always receive a medal; in ancient Olympics, players were awarded with an olive leaf crown. In the summer of 776 B.C., the first recorded Olympic Games were staged at Olympia, a site where people used to venerate the Greek deity Zeus.
The Olympics are claimed to have been founded in honor of Zeus, who was regarded as the King of Gods by the ancient Greeks, despite their internal conflicts. As ancient Greece was divided into towns and states, they frequently engaged in combat.
It was common for contending regions to declare peace so that their athletes could participate in the Olympics, but in ancient Olympic only men were not permitted to participate in the games, and allegedly there was only one game called “the stade,” which is a 192-meter long foot race in which a hero named “Hercules” was thought to be able to run in a single breath.
The Ancient Olympics evolved over time, and by the year 708 B.C.E., new sports such as the 400-meter dash, long jump, wrestling, discus throw etc. had been added to the sporting calendar. A sport called “Pankration,” which was a supreme combat sport, became one of the most in demanded in the Ancient Olympic.
Neither a weight classification nor a time limit applied, and there were only two rules: the players cannot bite neither they can tear or press one another eye. Later, this sport was discontinued.
The ancient Olympics grew in popularity until the Romans, who conquered Greece in the second century B.C., abolished it in AD 393.
Later this glorious event was revived in 1896 in Athens, Greece, and since then we celebrate this tournament every four years. Various new sports have been added to its sports list, and most importantly the Modern version also gave women a platform to showcase their powers.
And today we see thousands of athletes from 206 countries take part in around 33 sports. They compete for the medals and the glory of their nation.
The Olympics promotes peace and friendship among different countries.
What is Asian Games?
During 1951, New Delhi, India was the host of the first Asian Games. The first President of India, Following the address of Maharaja of Patiala Yadvindra Singh, the first president of the Asian Games Federation, Dr. Rajendra Prasad inaugurated and formally opened the Asian Games.
The Asian Games Federation was in charge of organizing the Asian Games from 1951 to 1978, till the 8th event.
The Asian Games are presently organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which has its headquarters in Kuwait City. “Ever Onwards,” the Asian Games’ motto, was given by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the members of the Olympic Council of Asia includes 45 National Olympic Committee. Olympic Committee of Israel has been officially excluded from (OCA) due to the Arab-Israel conflict and its re-incorporation in 1981.
At the time of the first Asian Games, 11 Asian countries took part in the game, and the main venue was National Stadium which is now referred to as Dhyanchand National Stadium. Among the 11 countries, Japan was at the top with a total of 60 medals of which 24 were gold medals and India was 2nd on the list with a total of 51 medals of which 15 were gold. The first gold medal in the history of the Asian Games was won by Singapore’s Neo Chwee Kok. After winning four gold medals, Kok ended up becoming the most medaled athlete at the inaugural event of the Asian Games.
Main Differences Between Olympics and Asian Games
1. There are 33 sports in the Olympic games, whereas in Asian Games there are 42 sports.
2. Olympic motto was given by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, whereas the Asian Games motto was Given by Jawaharlal Nehru.
3. King George I inaugurated the first modern Olympics in 1896, whereas Dr. Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the First Asian Games.
4. Athens, Greece hosted the First Olympics, on the other hand, New Delhi India hosted the first Asian Games.
5. Olympic Games are managed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Whereas the Asian Games are managed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0363811112000665
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012007686
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
