The 46th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially kicked off in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, bringing together leading figures of the Olympic movement from across the continent.

The high-profile forum has attracted more than 350 sports officials representing 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, along with delegates from international sports organizations, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The event once again highlights the growing capacity of New Uzbekistan to host major international gatherings at a professional and organizationally advanced level.

Earlier reports indicated that the assembly is expected to oversee the election of Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, as the new OCA President-an outcome that would mark the beginning of a new chapter for Asia’s largest sports organization.

During the assembly, participants will review progress reports and preparations for several major continental sporting events, including the 2026 Asian Games scheduled for September 19 to October 4 in Japan, the Asian Beach Games set to take place in April, and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games planned for February 2026.

Tashkent has previously hosted key OCA events, including a high-level meeting of the OCA Executive Committee in 2022, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s role as an emerging hub for international sports diplomacy in Asia.

The General Assembly is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of Olympic sports development across the Asian region.