As most of the members here must be knowing that this is the year of ASIAD (asian clone of the OLYMPIAD). The ASIAD or as it is called also The ASIAN GAMES is the second largest sports tournament after The Olympics.
India has been at the fore front of the organization, formation of this ceremony. And India also took the privilage of hosting the first ever Asian Games.
This year the 15th Asian Games are being held in DOHA, QATAR from 1st to 15th December.
So here is a post with details about the Games and this edition.
As ASIAN GAMES carries a lot of statistics it is not possible to include all here, but when necessary i will either post here or give link to the data.
Also it is important that this post is going to in feature for long and will require a lot of data to be analysed, so it is not complete but will be appended regularly.
Also i have kept images at its original sizes as they are legible. Please do not convert them to thumbnails. History Far Eastern Championship Games
The Asian Games owes its origins to small Asian multi-sport competitions. The Far Eastern Championship Games were created to show unity and cooperation among three nations: Empire of Japan, Philippine Islands and Republic of China. The first games were held in Manila in 1913. Other East Asian nations participated after its organized. It was discontinued in 1938 when Japan invaded China and consequently annexed the Philippines which led to the extension World War II in the Pacific.
Formation of the Asian Games
After World War II, a number of Asian countries became independent. Many of the new independent Asian countries want to use a new type of competition where Asian dominance should not be shown by violence and should be strengthened by mutual understanding. In August 1948, during the 14th Olympic Games in London, Indian IOC representative Guru Dutt Sondhi proposed to sports leaders of the Asian teams the idea of having discussions about holding the Asian Games. They agreed to form the Asian Athletic Federation. A preparatory committee was set up to draft the charter for the Asian amateur athletic federation. In February, 1949, the Asian athletic federation was formally formed and used the name Asian Games Federation. It was decided to hold the first Asian Games in 1951 in New Delhi, the capital of India. They added that the Asian Games would be regularly held once every four years.
List of Asian Games
1951 - 1st Asian Games, New Delhi, India
1954 - 2nd Asian Games, Manila, Philippines
1958 - 3rd Asian Games, Tokyo, Japan
1962 - 4th Asian Games, Jakarta, Indonesia
1966 - 5th Asian Games, Bangkok, Thailand
1970 - 6th Asian Games, Bangkok, Thailand (Originally hosted by Seoul, South Korea)
1974 - 7th Asian Games, Tehran, Iran
1978 - 8th Asian Games, Bangkok, Thailand (Originally hosted by Karachi, Pakistan)
1982 - 9th Asian Games, New Delhi, India
1986 - 10th Asian Games, Seoul, South Korea
1990 - 11th Asian Games, Beijing, China
1994 - 12th Asian Games, Hiroshima, Japan
1998 - 13th Asian Games, Bangkok, Thailand
2002 - 14th Asian Games, Busan, South Korea
2006 - 15th Asian Games, Doha, Qatar
2010 - 16th Asian Games, Guangzhou, China
Bidders for the 17th Asian Games in 2014
Incheon, South Korea (possible joint bid with Pyongyang, North Korea)
New Delhi, India
Participating countries 
Sports 
The 15th Asian Games; DOHA QATAR, 1-15 December, 2006. Spirit of the Games
The corporate identity of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 was designed to reflect the host city: modern and progressive but based firmly on cultural traditions and beliefs.
The theme 'Old and New' reflects Qatar's unique dichotomy - a balance of the natural environment, heritage, culture, traditions, modern lifestyle and architecture, and the distinctive patterns and textures this creates across the land.
Old draws from the desert and tribal lifestyle, and the sea where pearling, diving and fishing thrived. Textures and shapes from calligraphy and architecture reflecting the golden desert sands, and the turquoise blue sea are represented in soft, flowing patterns.
New takes in the vibrant and rapid growth of modern Qatar. Included is the focus on diplomacy and moderation, the investment in technology, education and health, the lucrative production of oil and gas, and the promotion of culture and sport.
The contrasts between these two philosophies have helped create forms, materials, patterns and colours that give a glimpse into what to expect in Doha 2006: a rich mixture of ethnic culture and spectacular sport.
The presentation :
The 'Look' is the term used to describe the pageantry and festive dressings used to present the branding of the Games. For the 15th Asian Games, the theme for the Look is 'Old and New' combining traditional elements of Qatari culture with modern patterns. The colours of the Sea, Sand and Sun will combine to create dramatic corridors of colour and celebration.
The Logo : 
An athlete in motion is the inspiration for the logo of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 - a sportsperson facing up to the challenges and obstacles in a fearless manner.
The colours used in the logo are especially relevant to the state of Qatar: yellow for the crescent-shaped sand dunes of the desert, blue for the calm sea of the Gulf and red for the sun and warm spirit of Asia.
The Mascot: 
Orry, chosen as the official mascot of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006, has a special message for all attending the Games.
"I love all sports; I love having
fun and I love my country. I want to help make Doha 2006 the Games of your life, for the people of Qatar, for the athletes and for all our visitors," says this lovable creature who is a native Qatari oryx, a beautiful member of the antelope family.
When seen in profile, the long, pointed horns of the oryx appear as one, which some say gave rise to the legend of the unicorn. With striking black and white markings on its face, this graceful creature was once close to extinction but now lives and breeds in protected herds.
These social animals graze on the sparse vegetation offered by the dry local environment, using their large horns to defend themselves.
Survival in such habitats requires special adaptation and the oryx can survive on little more than dew or condensation licked off leaves during the night for up to a year.
A characteristic of the animal is its ability to detect rainfall from great distances. As a result, oryx travel swiftly and have been known to cover up to 88km in 18 hours.
Perfectly adapted to desert conditions, the hooves of the Arabian oryx are designed to give better grip in sand while its coat is whiter to reflect heat.
The torch : 
The Torch design for the Doha 2006 Torch Relay is modest, elegant and light in design. Inspiration for the Torch was drawn from the curvaceous horns of the Arabian Oryx, the endangered national animal which also inspired Orry, the official Games mascot and the colours of the Qatari flag.
It symbolises the unifying spirit of competition and friendship throughout Asia.
The emblem of the 15th Asian Games appears on the top of the Torch, with the Olympic Council of Asia's sun icon embossed on the maroon middle section. The Asian sun is also engraved on the top of the Torch so that the Flame represents its core.
The Torch was designed by the Creative & Visual Profile Team of Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC).
The Doha 2006 Torch is a unifying source that sums up the ever-burning desire to merge and light anew the spirit of competition and friendship through Asia.
The Medals : 
In the spirit of the Games, aspects of the Old and New have been incorporated into the design of the official medals for the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.
On the front of the medal, Orry, the official Games mascot, runs in front of Zubara Fort, an important cultural landmark in Doha city. He is carrying the Doha 2006 Torch.
On the reverse, the Doha 2006 logo is set against a blazing Asian sun. A traditional Qatari pattern is embroidered into the burgundy ribbon, which will be attached to the medal.
Close to 3,000 medals in gold, silver and bronze will be made.
"We are seeking to convey the Old and New aspects of Qatar in the medal design. We keep an eye on our history and culture at all times, even while we push forward into the future," said Sharif Hashisho, Director of Ceremonies and Cultural Events for the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC). The Schedule:
This time there will be 39 sports for which about 12000 athletes will compete. Here are the screen shots depicting the complete schedule.
The Venues
Here is a list of impressive venues Doha has prepared for colourfull hosting of the Asian games 2006.
Al-Arabi Sports Club 
Al-Arabi Sports Club: for football and rugby, with fencing and table tennis indoors
Al-Arabi Sports Club is a well-established sports club in southern Doha and home to successful football and basketball teams.
The main stadium has been extensively renovated for the 15th Asian Games and now holds 13,000 spectators.
The rugby sevens tournament to be held on 10-11 December 2006 is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Games and will likely be popular among Qatar's large expatriate community.
Al-Arabi's Indoor Hall has also been extended and will be first used two days before the Opening Ceremony when the table tennis competition begins.
Events:
Al-Arabi Stadium is one of the five venues for the 15th Asian Games football competition. The stadium is also hosting the rugby sevens. Fencing and table tennis are taking place in the Indoor Hall.
Al-Gharrafa Sports Club
Al-Gharrafa Sports Club: the stadium for football, the indoor hall for handball
Al-Gharrafa Sports Club was founded in 1979 as Al-Ittehad, but changed its name in 2004 to reflect its geographical location in the Al-Gharrafa district, northwest of Doha.
It is home to one of the most successful football clubs in Qatar; league champions in 1992, 1998, 2002 and 2005.
The club will be one of the busiest venues at the 15th Asian Games, despite hosting only two sports. Football kicks off four days before the Opening Ceremony, while the handball final is on the last day of competition, 16 days later.
Al-Gharrafa's 25,000-seater main stadium is one of the newest and largest in Qatar and required only minimal work for the 15th Asian Games. A new 3,000-seater Indoor Hall has been built for the handball tournament.
Events:
Al-Gharrafa Stadium is one of five venues for the 15th Asian Games football competition. The Indoor Hall is host to handball.
Al-Khor Road Course
The Al-Khor Road Course will stage individual and team cycling time trials
Al-Khor is an ancient fishing town, 57km north of Doha on the east coast of Qatar, which is known for its old harbour, fishing boats, local markets and regional museum. It has excellent beaches, a historic tower and interesting mosques.
The town will host the cycling time trial events at Doha 2006 along an 11km route stretching to the south of the town, with the start and finish line at the Qatar Leadership Academy (QLA), which is just 300 metres from the town centre.
There will be designated crossing points for spectators, who will be able to watch the action from the roadside. Competition roads will be closed for three hours either side of the start and finish of the trials.
Events:
The Al-Khor Road Course will stage individual and team cycling time trials on 5 6 December.
Al-Rayyan Sports Club
Al-Rayyan Sports Club: the indoor hall will be the venue for softball and hockey
Al-Rayyan Sports Club, purpose-built on a new site, will be one of the busiest competition venues during the 15th Asian Games.
It is scheduled to host two days more of competition than Sport City. The action will start on 28 November when the first football match kicks off, four days before the official Opening Ceremony.
It finishes 16 days later with the hockey, softball and indoor volleyball tournament finals.
The main Al-Rayyan stadium has a capacity of 25,000, making it the joint second biggest in Qatar alongside the Al-Gharrafa stadium.
The indoor hall will accommodate 3,000 spectators for indoor volleyball, while temporary outdoor venues are being built for baseball, softball and hockey.
Events:
Al-Rayyan Stadium is one of the five venues for the 15th Asian Games football competition. Baseball, softball and hockey will also be held outdoors. The Indoor Hall is hosting indoor volleyball. Beach volleyball will take place at Sport City.
Al-Sadd Sports Club
Al-Sadd Sports Club: football matches, waterpolo, sepaktakraw and the cue sports
Al-Sadd is the oldest sports club in Qatar and home to its most successful football team. Local students founded the club on 21 October 1969 and it has since grown into a multi-sport organisation, catering for athletics, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and handball competitions.
The Al-Sadd football club broke new ground in 1988 when it became the first Arabic team to win the AFC Champions league. Over the years, it has signed some of the world's biggest football stars, including Romario and Abedi Pele.
Al-Sadd Football Stadium has been completely rebuilt for the 15th Asian Games and has seating for 12,000 spectators.
The indoor hall has also been renovated and a new aquatic centre and multi-purpose hall have been built. All three facilities each have seating for more than 1,000 spectators.
Events:
Al-Sadd Stadium is one of the five venues for the 15th Asian Games football competition. The aquatic centre hosts water polo, while sepaktakraw will take place at the indoor hall. The new multi-purpose hall will be home to the four cue sports: snooker, billiards, pool and carom.
Corniche
Doha's Corniche will host sections of cycling, triathlon, walking and marathon races
The palm tree-lined Doha Corniche is one of the most famous waterfronts in the Middle East. Starting from the Sheraton Hotel to the north, it sweeps about 7.5km in a smooth curve, finishing at the newly-built Museum of Islamic Arts, close to the Souq area in the south.
In the early evening, the Corniche is full of atmosphere, with people picnicking in the gardens, exercising on the waterfront, or enjoying the cool evening breeze and views of the dazzling city skyline.
Events:
The Corniche will provide a spectacular backdrop to the triathlon, the cycling road events, the marathons and the race walks.
Doha Golf Club
Doha Golf Club: where the golf contest will take place
Doha Golf Club is well known to golf fans all over the world as the home of the Qatar Masters, first held in 1998.
The tournament attracts top professionals from all over the world. Ernie Els is perhaps the most famous winner of the tournament, having shot a final round seven under par 65 to win by one stroke in 2004.
The 10-year-old championship course remains the only grass course in Qatar, and one of a handful of desert courses in the world. Millions of gallons of water keep the fairways green and the desert at bay.
Eight artificial lakes serve the dual role of hazards for the golfers and reservoirs for the irrigation system.
At 7,374 yards, it is a course for the long hitter. The 634-yard ninth hole can spoil the best of rounds, especially if the desert wind starts to blow. For the more casual visitor, a shorter nine-hole floodlit course is next door.
Events:
Doha Golf Club is one of four single-event venues at the Games.
Doha Racing & Equestrian Club
Doha Racing and Equestrian Club will stage all equestrian sports
The Doha Racing & Equestrian Club, with its floodlit grass track, is the home of horse racing in Qatar.
Meetings take place every Thursday during the racing season, which runs from October to May. Gambling is not permitted.
With years of experience of handling thoroughbred horses, the Club was the obvious choice as a venue for equestrian events at the 15th Asian Games. A new 1,050 capacity arena has been built, beside the racecourse, for show-jumping and dressage, along with a training area, extra stabling and veterinary facilities.
Events:
Doha Racing & Equestrian Club will stage show-jumping and dressage, both as individual competitions and as part of the three days.
The cross-country section of the three-day event will take place at the Sport City, 6km to the south.
Doha Sailing Club
Doha Sailing Club: the city's waterfront provides a fine backdrop for the sailing events
Founded in 1959, Doha Sailing Club is one of the oldest sports clubs in Qatar.
Extensive renovations and improvements have been made to bring the facilities up to top international standards for the 15th Asian Games.
Doha Bay and the Corniche will provide a spectacular backdrop for the 13 sailing events.
The club, located at the south end of Doha Bay, is affiliated with the International Sailing Federation and stages racing every Friday and Saturday between September and June.
Events:
The sailing competition will take place at the Doha Sailing Club.
Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex
Khalifa International Tennis and Squash complex will host tennis, soft tennis and squash
Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex is an established venue on the ATP men's professional tennis tour.
The Qatar Open launches the tennis year and, since 1993 when Boris Becker won the inaugural title, it has attracted the world's top players to its hard courts.
In January 2006, world number one Roger Federer beat Gael Monfils to become only the second player to defend the Qatar trophy, following Stefan Edberg 11 years earlier.
The original centre court holds 4,106 spectators and remains unaltered. For the 15th Asian Games, eight new training courts have been built, as well as four squash courts, with seating for more than 1,000 represenatatives, and new media and players' facilities.
Events:
Tennis, squash and soft tennis will all take place at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, while badminton will take place at ASPIRE.
Lusail Shooting Complex
Lusail: north of Doha, the venue will be hosting shooting and archery
Lusail Shooting Complex is a new state-of-the-art facility in the desert to the north of Doha.
It is also the new headquarters of the Qatar Shooting Association. Built to Olympic standards, the complex includes indoor and outdoor shooting ranges, as well as archery practice and competition areas.
Some 1,500 spectators will be accommodated for the archery competition at the 15th Asian Games, while 600 can watch the action at the shooting range.
Events:
Lusail will be in constant use during the 15th Asian Games. The shooting events take place in the first week, while archery is scheduled for the second.
Mesaieed Endurance Course
Qatar's desert endurance course is a familiar landmark for day-trippers heading for the Mesaieed beaches and sand dunes every weekend.
Its stables and rails are clearly visible to the right of the road, 10km before the Sealine Beach Resort.
Horses and riders will tackle five loops, all between 20km and 30km in length, for a total race distance of 120km. They will return to the start point at the end of each loop for a medical examination.
Temporary stands will be built for the 15th Asian Games at the start and finish lines, holding a total of around 500 spectators. Viewing is possible anywhere on the course, although only experienced 4x4 drivers should travel into the desert to get closer to the action.
Events:
The Mesaieed Endurance Course is home to the equestrian desert endurance event.
Qatar Bowling Centre
Qatar Bowling Centre: the refurbished club, near the Corniche, will host the bowling
Qatar Bowling Centre is one of the most popular leisure destinations in Doha.
The 32-lane facility successfully staged the 3rd West Asian Games bowling competition in December 2005 and is one of the few venues that required no renovation or rebuilding for the 15th Asian Games.
Temporary stands built over some of the lanes will accommodate 350 spectators, providing for a unique and exciting atmosphere.
The Qatar Bowling Centre is located close to the city centre.
Events:
The Qatar Bowling Centre is one of four single-event venues at the 15th Asian Games.
Qatar Sports Club
Qatar Sports Club: the venue's indoor hall will stage the judo and taekwondo events
Qatar Sports Club achieved worldwide fame on 12 May 2006 when Justin Gatlin equalled the 100m world record. He was running in front of a 12,000-strong crowd and a worldwide TV audience at the Qatar IAAF World Super Tour athletics meeting.
The world and Olympic champion ran 9.766secs, rounded-up to 9.7secs, to equal the world record and earn Qatar Sports Club a place in the history books.
The 12,500-capacity main arena and track has been extensively renovated for the Games and played host to the opening and closing ceremonies for the 3rd West Asian Games in December 2005.
The indoor hall has also been refurbished and upgraded and now seats 1,050 spectators. Qatar Sports Club is the most centrally located of the five sports clubs being used for the 15th Asian Games.
Events:
Qatar Sports Club stadium is one of the five venues for the football tournament. The indoor hall is also staging three martial arts: judo, karate and taekwondo.
The Sport City
ASPIRE will host eight indoor sports events
Sport City will be at the very heart of the 15th Asian Games. It will play host to some of the most monumental moments of Doha 2006, including both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and many Blue Riband events from athletics, swimming, gymnastics and several other sports.
The complex consists of the magnificent Khalifa Stadium; the ground-breaking ASPIRE Academy of Sports Excellence; the purpose-built Basketball Indoor Hall; the newly-upgraded Hamad Aquatic Centre and a spectator-friendly temporary site designed to host beach volleyball and equestrian - cross country.
Khalifa Stadium was first opened in 1976, but following extensive redevelopment and modernisation ahead of the 15th Asian Games, it is now virtually unrecognisable from the original design, more than doubling its capacity from 20,000 to 50,000.
Its outstanding feature is a spectacular arch to the east, which carries floodlights and will be the launching platform for fireworks during the Opening Ceremony on 1 December 2006. A state-of-the-art running track was installed at the stadium in May 2005.
At 290,000sqm, the spectacular ASPIRE has the largest indoor multi-sports dome in the world. It is a visionary sports academy, which aims to identify the best young sporting talent from the region and elsewhere and nurture them to world class level.
Designed by the famous French architect Roger Taillibert, the ground-breaking ASPIRE opened its doors in November 2005 in the presence of football legends Pel and Diego Maradona. It houses an indoor athletics stadium, a 5,000-seater football stadium, Olympic-sized swimming and diving pools, and seven multi-purpose sports halls.
The newly-constructed Basketball Indoor Hall can accommodate 2,000 spectators, almost twice as many as the venue used for the 3rd West Asian Games in 2005. It is designed specifically for the sport with the crowd close to all the action.
The Hamad Aquatic Centre is another world-class facility which has been upgraded ahead of the 15th Asian Games. The three-story building now includes two Olympic-sized swimming pools and two diving pools, one each in the competition and the warm-up areas. More than 2,000 spectators can enjoy events in the main arena.
A Sport City Temporary Site will also stage the beach volleyball and the cross country leg of equestrians three-day event. Once again, spectators and participants alike will be treated to a world-class venue. Indeed, centre court at the venue will hold temporary accommodation for 1,500 supporters.
Events:
Khalifa Stadium will host all the track and field events and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. ASPIRE will host track cycling (Hall 1), gymnastics (Hall 2), badminton and wushu (Hall 3), kabaddi and wrestling (Hall 4) and boxing (Hall 5).
The Basketball Indoor Hall is the only purpose-built, permanent, single sport venue at the 15th Asian Games. The Hamad Aquatic Centre will stage all swimming, diving and synchronized swimming events. Beach volleyball and equestrian cross country will take place at Sport City Temporary Venue.
West Bay Lagoon
Doha's attractive West Bay Lagoon will host the canoeing and rowing competitions
West Bay Lagoon is a stunning collection of hand-made waterways north of Doha.
One of the most sought-after addresses in Doha, it differs from the city centre in having freehold properties available to buy. As such, it has attracted a large expatriate community.
The area is set to become even larger with properties soon becoming available on The Pearl - a USD2.5 billion artificial island, and a world-class residential and commercial community designed to accommodate more than 35,000 residents. It is currently under construction just off the coast.
Canoe, kayak and rowing competitions will take place in the West Bay Lagoon, in the canal beside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Temporary seating is planned for 500 spectators.
Events:
Canoe, kayak and rowing competitions all take place on the still waters of West Bay Lagoon.
Asian Games medal Count:
There used to be days when India was a force to recon with in Asian Games, but nowadays China, Japan, Korea are leading the medals tally till date. India is still at 5th place which can be pushed further with a strong performance this year.
I am not listing the complete tally here because of size and formatting constraints but giving you a link to the page depicting ranks.
Asian Games Medals Rank Till date Disclaimer:
Respective images and logs are copyright of DAGOC. Respectives emblems are copyright of respective organisations.
Resources : Official Doha Asian Games Website Wiki on Asian Games Olympic Committee of Asia Indian Olympic Committee
As i mentioned earlier the article is still unfinished. this was the first primary part. As still when i write this the indian contingent is not announced so detail about Indian Perspective this games will follow.
Asian Games 2006, Doha, Qatar. 
would need to get upto date on India's chances 
! Although i dont care abt the asian games but wud be gr8 if India can come on Top ! Keep the Thread updated ...very informative ! 
