Esports & breaking with tradition
There is also the addition of new, action-packed events that appeal to a younger audience, such as breaking and esports.
"Among all the 40 Asian Games events, 31 are Olympic sports, while nine are non-Olympic sports. There will be major sports including athletics and swimming, and there are regional sports such as wushu and kurash, which show the rich culture and tradition of Asia," said Zhou Jinqiang, a vice-minister of the General Administration of Sport of China.
"The addition of new sports such as breaking and esports is welcomed by the younger generation. The sports of the Asian Games have strong Olympic elements, and these sports have also become a great chance for Asian countries and regions to display their cultures and traditions. The variety of sports at the Asian Games is the best testimony to the inclusiveness and diversity of Asian sports culture."
The Olympic sports at the Asian Games, first of all, attract a huge number of Asia's Olympic and world champions. The fierce competition among the region's top athletes is guaranteed to deliver the most thrilling action for fans to enjoy.
Asia's regional sports are always a major attraction at the event. Kabaddi, one of the oldest sports in the world, with a 4,000-year history, for instance, is included in the main program in Hangzhou. A fast, furious and physical sport, kabaddi competitions are always great spectacles.