Bangkok's first time bidding for the Asian Games
In short: For decades, Bangkok was the default host of the Asian Games, often stepping in only when other cities failed to deliver. In 1990, the city broke this cycle, winning a competitive bid against Taipei and Jakarta to host the 13th edition of the multi-sport event in 1998.
The 1998 Asian Games, officially known as Bangkok 1998, represented a milestone in Thai sports history. While Bangkok had already hosted the games in 1966, 1970, and 1978, it was notably the first time the city had to formally submit a bid to host. During the three prior occasions, Bangkok served primarily as a substitute venue to ensure the competitions proceeded despite issues facing the initially chosen hosts.
The selection process began in 1989 when Bangkok, Taipei (Taiwan), and Jakarta (Indonesia) submitted formal bids. On September 27, 1990, during the 9th Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly in Beijing, the 37 members voted in a secret ballot. Although the official results were not released, a leak suggested Bangkok secured the win with a 20–10–7 vote. Significant work occurred for the 1998 games, involving roughly 6 billion Thai baht (US$167 million) spent on building and upgrading three primary arenas plus a village for athletes.
The games officially commenced on November 30, 1998, a week before the opening ceremony on December 6, which was attended by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The event featured 6,554 athletes competing in 377 events across 36 sports. China led the final medal tally, but Thailand achieved a significant milestone by setting a new record with 24 gold medals. The games were characterized by cultural symbols, including the mascot Chai-Yo—an elephant representing strength and nobility—and an emblem combining Thai stupas with the letter "A" to symbolize knowledge and athletic prowess.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 1998 Asian Games
- Also: Wikidata — 1998 Asian Games · CC0
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