Hangzhou 2022 organisers have sent out invitations to NOCs to invite them to the next scheduled edition of the Asian Games ©Hangzhou 2022

Hangzhou 2022 organisers held a ceremony today to mark 400 days until the scheduled start of next year’s Asian Games.

The centrepiece of the ceremony was the sending of invitations to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to invite them to the Games, which must be done under the terms of the Olympic Council of Asia Constitution 12 months before the scheduled start of the event.

The invitations feature art and visual elements designed to reflect both the spirit of sports and the style of host city Hangzhou.

They are being sent out as part of a pack, which also contains a flag of the NOC, a mascot, an emblem, and a souvenir.

Hangzhou 2022 organisers held a ceremony to mark 400 days until the scheduled start of the next Asian Games ©Hangzhou 2022
Hangzhou 2022 organisers held a ceremony to mark 400 days until the scheduled start of the next Asian Games ©Hangzhou 2022

Once they receive the packs, NOCs are being encouraged to take pictures or make videos with the mascots and share these on their social media pages, to further promote Hangzhou 2022.

Deputy secretary general of HAGOC Mao Genhong was among the special guests at the ceremony.

The 19th edition of the Asian Games is scheduled to run from September 10 to 25 2022, with Hangzhou scheduled to be the third Chinese city to host following on from Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.   

More than 10,000 athletes are expected to compete in 40 sports and various disciplines at the multi-sport event.