📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / RaiyaniM
Sports
Asian Games: Why Russia, Israel and Turkey Opt Out Despite Being Mostly Asian
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 21 Sep 2026, 08:15 AM
👁 8
The Asian Games exclude Russia, Israel and Turkey, even though a large majority of each country lies within Asia. The decision is rooted in the Games’ continental eligibility rules and geopolitical considerations.
The Asian Games, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, allow participation only from member federations within the continent. Russia, Israel and Turkey, though geographically situated largely in Asia, are members of European or other continental federations for most sports.
Russia competes in the European Olympic Committees and has historically taken part in the European Games. Israel, while located in the Middle East, is a member of the European Olympic Committees and participates in European championships. Turkey competes in the European Athletics Association and other European bodies, making it ineligible for the Asian Games.
The exclusion is not due to political disputes but rather the administrative alignment of each country’s sports federations. The Olympic Council of Asia maintains strict continental boundaries, and any change would require a re‑membership process that none of the three countries have pursued.
Russia competes in the European Olympic Committees and has historically taken part in the European Games. Israel, while located in the Middle East, is a member of the European Olympic Committees and participates in European championships. Turkey competes in the European Athletics Association and other European bodies, making it ineligible for the Asian Games.
The exclusion is not due to political disputes but rather the administrative alignment of each country’s sports federations. The Olympic Council of Asia maintains strict continental boundaries, and any change would require a re‑membership process that none of the three countries have pursued.