The Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, originally scheduled to take place from October 9 to 15, have been postponed, the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) and the Hangzhou Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (HAPGOC) announced on Tuesday. 

The APC said in a statement that the emblem, slogan and year of the Games will remain unchanged and a further announcement on this postponement is expected in the near future. 

"This was not an easy decision to make but we have taken it now to give a level of certainty to the IFs, NPCs and athletes who were planning to attend the Games," APC President Majid Rashed said. 

"The Games preparations have been going very well and HAPGOC was ready to deliver an outstanding games. 

"We will now work with the organizing committee on securing a new date that works for the para-sport calendar," he added. 

The announcement follows the decision taken by the Olympic Council of Asia and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee to postpone the 19th Asian Games, which were scheduled to be held in Hangzhou from September 10 to 25, after "carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the Games."

(Cover: Venue for hosting boxing events during Asian Games and boccia events during Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, March 31, 2022. /CFP)