The 2002 Asian Games,[a] officially known as the XIV Asian Games[b] and also known as Busan 2002 (부산2002), were an international multi-sport event held in Busan, South Korea from 29 September to 14 October 2002. Due to schedule impediments the football tournament started two days before the opening ceremony.

Busan is the second city in South Korea, after Seoul in 1986, to host the Games. A total of 419 events in 38 sports were contested by 7,711 athletes from 44 countries.[3][4] The Games were also co-hosted by its four neighbouring cities: Ulsan, Changwon, Masan and Yangsan.[5] It was opened by President of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung, at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium.

The final medal tally was led by China, followed by host South Korea and Japan. China set a new record and became the first nation in the history of Asian Games to cross the 300 medal-mark in one edition. South Korea set a new record with 95 gold medals. 22 world records and 43 Asian records were broken during the Games.[6][7][8] In addition, Japanese Swimming Kosuke Kitajima was announced as the most valuable player (MVP) of the Games.

Bidding process

Busan was selected over Kaohsiung at the 14th Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on 23 May 1995. The voting involved 41 members of the sports governing body, with 37 of them supporting Busan.[9][10][11]

2002 Asian Games bidding result
City NOC Votes
Busan South Korea37
Kaohsiung Chinese Taipei4

Development and preparations

Costs

A total of US$2.9 billion was spent for the games.[12]

Marketing

Official mascot

Emblem

The emblem of the Games is a motif of the Sea of Japan's blue waves in the shape of Taegeuk, symbolising Busan and Korea. It expresses the image of development and unity of the Asian people and the two dynamic powers that are closely intertwined. The wave's shape in the emblem indicates the character B, the first character of Busan.[13][14]

Mascot

The mascot of the 2002 Asian Games is a Sea gull, the city bird of Busan named "Duria", whose name is a combination of the two words 'Durative' and 'Asia', which means "You and Me Together" or Everlasting Asia in the Korean language, which expresses the ideal of the Games: to promote harmony, friendship and prosperity among Asian countries. Its thick black ink and free line expression symbolize Korean traditional culture, while its white colour shade represents the image of a powerful spirit and the great hopes for Asia in the 21st century.[15]

Medals

The medal of the games featured a top-view design of the Korean traditional octagonal building, Palgakjeong, with the old Olympic Council of Asia logo on the obverse and Busan Asia Games Flame, logo, and Oryukdo scenery on the reverse. The design represents solidarity of membership and eternity of the OCA, Busan as host of the games and youth, unity, and friendship of the athletes.[16]

Music

In conjunction with the Games, eight songs were released as the official music for the Games:[17]

Torch relay

The relay itself started at 11 a.m. on 5 September 2002 when two flames were simultaneously lit at Hallasan in South Korea and Paektu Mountain, the Korean peninsula’s highest mountain, in North Korea. 42 local flames in other participating nations were also lit at the same time.[18] The two Korean flames were unified into one at Imjingak Pavilion at the truce village of Panmunjeom during the morning of 7 September 2002, being dubbed the Unification flame. After that, a nationwide torch relay totalling a distance of 4,294 kilometres in 23 days was held. The relay passed through 904 districts in 16 cities within the country. The Unification flame, joined with the flames of 42 other participating nations, were unified at the main cauldron base during the opening ceremony on 29 September 2002.[19][20] The torch design was based on a Korean traditional music instrument called taepyeongso.[21]

Venues

42 competition venues were used in the Games with twelve of them are newly built,[22][23] including the Asiad Sports Complex which was completed on 31 July 2000.[24] Other venues included an athletes' village and a main press centre.[25]

Asiad Sports Complex

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Busan Asiad StadiumAthletics, Football (Final), Opening and closing ceremonies
Sajik Swimming PoolAquatics (Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Diving)
Sajik GymnasiumBasketball, Gymnastics
Sajik Baseball StadiumBaseball
Sajik Tennis CourtsSoft tennis and tennis

Gangseo Sports Park

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Gangseo Archery FieldArchery
Gangseo GymnasiumBadminton, Fencing
Gangseo Hockey StadiumHockey

Geumjeong Sports Park

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Geumjeong GymnasiumBasketball
Geumjeong VelodromeCycling (Track)
Geumjeong Tennis StadiumTennis

Gudeok Sports Complex

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Busan Gudeok StadiumFootball
Gudeok Baseball StadiumBaseball
Gudeok GymnasiumJudo, Taekwondo

Isolated Venues

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Nakdong River Rowing and Canoeing CoursesCanoeing, Rowing
Gijang GymnasiumVolleyball (Indoor)
Haeundae BeachVolleyball (Beach)
Dongju College GymnasiumCue sports
Gijang StreetsCycling (Road)
Gijang Mountain Bike Race StadiumCycling (Mountain, Down hill)
Busan Citizen's HallBodybuilding
Homeplus Asiad Bowling AlleyBowling
Busan Equestrian GroundsEquestrian, Modern pentathlon (Riding)
Asiad Country ClubGolf
Tongmyong University StadiumKabaddi
Samnak River Athletic ParkModern pentathlon (Running)
Busan Yachting CenterSailing
Pukyong National University GymnasiumWeightlifting
Dongseo University Minseok Sports CenterWushu, Sepak takraw

Changwon Sports Park

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Changwon Swimming PoolAquatics (Water polo), Modern pentathlon (Swimming)
Changwon StadiumFootball
Changwon GymnasiumHandball

Masan Sports Complex

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Masan GymnasiumBoxing
Masan StadiumFootball
Changwon Evergreen HallModern pentathlon (Fencing)
Changwon International Shooting RangeShooting, Modern pentathlon (Shooting)
Yangsan College GymnasiumKarate, Wrestling, Squash
Yangsan StadiumFootball

Ulsan

Venue Events Capacity Ref.
Ulsan Munsu Football StadiumFootball
Ulsan StadiumRugby
Dongchun GymnasiumTable tennis

The Asian Village in Property Development Area, Banyeodong, Haeundae District, Busan had 2,290 apartments in 20 buildings which can accommodate 14,000 people.[26][27]

Transport

The host city Busan had existing subway and bus services prior to the games.[28]

The games

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony with the theme A Beautiful Meeting was held on 29 September 2002 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Participating nations marched into the stadium in Korean alphabetical order began with Nepal. North Korea and South Korea jointly entered the stadium under one flag for the first time in Asian Games history and the second time after the 2000 Summer Olympics.[29][30] South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung declared the Games open, Two Korean athletes — Moon Dae-sung (taekwondo) and Ryu Ji-hye (table tennis) — took the oath on behalf of all the participating athletes while South Korean retired judoist Ha Hyung-joo and North Korean judoist Kye Sun-hui lit the games' cauldron. The cultural part was a six-segment show lasting 40 minutes and was about the encounter between King Kim Suro and the Queen Heo Hwang-ok. The main star of the event was the opera diva Sumi Jo.

Participating National Olympic Committees

All 44 members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) with 7,711 athletes took part in the Games. East Timor (Timor-Leste) participated for the first time since gaining independence, Afghanistan returned to action after the Taliban came to power,[31] and Saudi Arabia returned after previously boycotting the prior event due to political tensions with Thailand, the host of the 1998 Games.[32] Below is a list of all the participating NOCs; the number of competitors per delegation is indicated in brackets.[33][34]

Participating National Olympic Committees

Sports

A total of 419 events in 38 sports was contested in the Games across 16 days of competition. The football and basketball events began two days and one day prior to the opening ceremony respectively.[35] Bodybuilding had its debut at the Games.[36]

Calendar

All times are in Korea Standard Time (UTC+9)
 OC Opening ceremony  ● Event competitions  1 Gold medal events  CC Closing ceremony
September / October 27th
Fri		 28th
Sat		 29th
Sun		 30th
Mon		 1st
Tue		 2nd
Wed		 3rd
Thu		 4th
Fri		 5th
Sat		 6th
Sun		 7th
Mon		 8th
Tue		 9th
Wed		 10th
Thu		 11th
Fri		 12th
Sat		 13th
Sun		 14th
Mon		 Events
CeremoniesOCCCN/a
Aquatics Diving 2 2 1 1 1 1 43
Swimming 5 5 6 6 5 5
Synchronized swimming ● 1 1
Water polo ● ● ● ● 1
Archery ● ● 1 1 2 4
Athletics 5 10 7 9 5 8 1 45
Badminton ● ● 1 1 ● ● ● 2 3 7
Baseball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1
Basketball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 2 2
Bodybuilding ● ● 4 4 8
Bowling 2 2 ● 2 2 ● 2 10
Boxing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 12 12
Canoeing 5 ● 8 13
Cue sports 1 ● 2 1 2 1 2 1 10
Cycling Road 2 1 1 20
Track 2 3 3 4
Mountain bike 2 1 1
Equestrian ● ● 2 1 1 ● 1 1 6
Fencing 2 2 2 2 2 2 12
Field hockey ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1 2
Football ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1 2
Golf ● ● ● 4 4
Gymnastics Artistic 1 1 2 5 5 16
Rhythmic 1 1
Handball ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1 2
Judo 4 4 4 4 16
Kabaddi ● ● ● 1 1
Karate 7 4 11
Modern pentathlon 2 2 1 1 6
Rowing ● ● 6 7 13
Rugby union ● 1 ● ● 1 2
Sailing ● ● ● ● ● 15 15
Sepak takraw ● 2 ● ● ● ● 2 ● ● 2 6
Shooting 8 6 6 6 6 6 4 42
Soft tennis ● ● 2 ● ● 5 7
Softball ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1
Squash ● ● ● ● 2 2
Table tennis ● ● ● 1 1 1 ● 2 2 7
Taekwondo 4 4 4 4 16
Tennis ● ● ● 1 1 ● ● ● 3 2 7
Volleyball Beach ● ● ● ● ● 2 4
Indoor ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 1 1
Weightlifting 1 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 15
Wrestling ● 5 4 ● 5 4 18
Wushu ● ● 2 9 11
Daily medal events214193141352723323335271932427419
Cumulative total2163566107142169192224257292319338370412419
September / October 27th
Fri		 28th
Sat		 29th
Sun		 30th
Mon		 1st
Tue		 2nd
Wed		 3rd
Thu		 4th
Fri		 5th
Sat		 6th
Sun		 7th
Mon		 8th
Tue		 9th
Wed		 10th
Thu		 11th
Fri		 12th
Sat		 13th
Sun		 14th
Mon		 Events

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony with the theme Returning to Home was held on the evening of Monday, 14 October 2002 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima was announced as the most valuable player (MVP) of the Games. Samih Moudallal, vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), on behalf of OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al Sabah declared the games closing. The Asian Games flag was handed over to Doha, Qatar, host of the next edition in 2006. A cultural segment of the city was also presented.[37][38][39]

Medal table

The top ten ranked NOCs at these Games are listed below. The host nation, South Korea, is highlighted.

  *   Host nation (South Korea)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 China (CHN)1508474308
2 South Korea (KOR)*968084260
3 Japan (JPN)447372189
4 Kazakhstan (KAZ)20263076
5 Uzbekistan (UZB)15122451
6 Thailand (THA)14191043
7 India (IND)11121336
8 Chinese Taipei (TPE)10172552
9 North Korea (PRK)9111333
10 Iran (IRI)8141436
11–39Remaining5073143266
Totals (39 entries)4274215021,350

Broadcasting

Busan Asian Games Radio and Television Organization (BARTO), a joint venture between Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS), served as the host broadcaster of these Games, covered 28 of the 38 sports during the event.[40] The International Broadcast Centre was located at Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Haeundae District.[41][42]

Concerns and controversies

Doping issues

On 7 October 2002, the Olympic Council of Asia announced that the bodybuilding bronze medalist in the +90 kg weight category Youssef El-Zein of Lebanon was relieved of his medal for not submitting to a drugs test. After El-Zein was disqualified, the bronze medal in the +90 kg category went to Choi Jae-Duck of South Korea (who had finished fourth).[43]

Six days later, Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported that Indian middle-distance runner Sunita Rani had tested positive for a banned substance, which was later confirmed by Lee Choon-Sup, Deputy Secretary General of the Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee; an unofficial report stated that the substance was the anabolic steroid nandrolone. Sunita had won two medals in athletics: a gold in the 1,500 m (setting an Asian Games record) and a bronze in the 5,000 m, (in which Sunita jointly bettered the Games record set by Indonesian Suprianti Sutono in Bangkok during the 1998 Asian Games with six other athletes).[44][45] The Indian Chef de Mission at the Games backed Sunita—who denied using any banned drug—and asked for a "B" sample test from Bangkok, but tests were run only at the Asian Games’ Doping Control Center (AGDCC) in Seoul (the laboratory accredited by the IOC). On 16 October, the AGDCC confirmed the steroid nandrolone in Sunita's urine sample; as a consequence, the OCA stripped her of both medals and dismissed her Asian Games record for the 1,500 m.[46][47]

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) requested the intervention of the International Association of Athletics Federations and the IOC; the samples were jointly reexamined by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the IOC Sub-Commission on Doping and Biochemistry of Sport. In January 2003, the OCA announced that the IOC Medical Director had cleared Sunita of the doping charge and that appropriate action would be taken against the AGDCC.[48] Both of Sunita's medals were reinstated on 4 February 2003, in a ceremony attended by the Secretary General of OCA Randhir Singh and the president of the IOA Suresh Kalmadi.[49]

Three Malaysian sepak takraw players were sent home for failing drug tests after testing positive for morphine.[50]

Missing athletes

A total of 16 athletes including 12 Nepalese, three Sri Lankans and one Mongolian were reported to be missing, with police and sports officials suspecting them to have found illegal jobs in South Korea.[51]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Korean: 2002년 아시아 경기대회, 2002-nyeon Asia gyeonggi daehoe
  2. ↑ Korean: 제14회 아시아 경기대회, Je sipsa hoe Asia gyeonggi daehoe

References

  1. ↑ "14th Asian Summer Games: Pusan 2002". Chinese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Busan's hour of reckoning has arrived". The Hindu. 28 September 2002. Archived from the original on 22 November 2002.
  3. ↑ "14th AG Busan 2002". OCA. Archived from the original on 8 December 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Asian Games open in South Korea". United Press International. 29 September 2002.
  5. ↑ "Neighboring Host Cities". busanasiangames.org. Archived from the original on 5 June 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "See you in Doha!". 15 October 2002. Archived from the original on 24 April 2003.
  7. ↑ "World records toppled en masse at Asian games". 15 October 2002. Archived from the original on 28 February 2003.
  8. ↑ "New records". BAGOC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2003.
  9. ↑ "S.Korea's Pusan to host Asian Games". upi.com. United Press International. 23 May 1995.
  10. ↑ "'Busan 2002 Asian Games held'". News Library (in Korean). 24 May 1995. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "City of Pusan to stage 2002 Asian Olympic Games". Youtube. Associated Press. 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "The high price of the Asian Games". Today Online. 6 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Emblem, Busan 2002". OCA. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  14. ↑ "General Information". Archived from the original on 2 February 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ↑ "Mascot, Busan 2002". OCA. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  16. ↑ "Medals". BAGOC. Archived from the original on 16 February 2003.
  17. ↑ "AG Official Music". busanasiangames.org. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  18. ↑ "Asian Games torch lit in Delhi". Rediff. 5 September 2002.
  19. ↑ "Flame of peace lights up Busan". 28 September 2002. Archived from the original on 28 March 2003.
  20. ↑ "Together at last!". 30 September 2002. Archived from the original on 16 July 2003.
  21. ↑ "The design for the Sacred Fire". BAGOC. 9 October 2001. Archived from the original on 5 July 2003.
  22. ↑ "Venues readiness". busanasiangames.org. Archived from the original on 5 July 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  23. ↑ "2002 Asian Games venues". Pusan Web.
  24. ↑ "Busan Asiad Main Stadium Completed". BAGOC. 9 August 2001. Archived from the original on 8 May 2003.
  25. ↑ "Main Press Centre". Archived from the original on 17 July 2003. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  26. ↑ "Athlete's village". Archived from the original on 17 July 2003. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  27. ↑ "AV officially opens on Sept. 23". Archived from the original on 28 February 2003.
  28. ↑ "Transportation". Archived from the original on 23 February 2003.
  29. ↑ "Asian Games begin in Busan". The Times of India. Times of India. 29 September 2002.
  30. ↑ "Games open with 'Beautiful meeting'". Rediff. 29 September 2002.
  31. ↑ "History of the Asian Games". The Times of India. 11 November 2010. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  32. ↑ "World: Asia-Pacific Saudis pull out of Asian Games". BBC News. 26 October 1998. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  33. ↑ "Each National & Regional". busanasiangames.org. Archived from the original on 16 February 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  34. ↑ "Participating Countries and Regions". busanasiangames.org. Archived from the original on 29 December 2002.
  35. ↑ "Competition Schedules". busanasiangames.org. Archived from the original on 21 June 2003. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  36. ↑ "South Korea catches Japan in medals race". CNNSI.com. 5 October 2002. Archived from the original on 27 April 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  37. ↑ "Ceremony". Archived from the original on 15 May 2003.
  38. ↑ "October 14 2002 Curtain falls on Asian Games in Busan". Gulf News. 13 October 2017.
  39. ↑ "South Koreans bid touching farewell". Rediff. 14 October 2002.
  40. ↑ "BARTO- selected a host broadcast company for rebroadcasting". BAGOC. 15 December 2001. Archived from the original on 28 March 2003.
  41. ↑ "MMC, pivotal broadcasting center, opens". BAGOC. 16 September 2002. Archived from the original on 28 March 2003.
  42. ↑ "Main Press Centre/International Broadcast Centre". BAGOC. Archived from the original on 4 April 2003.
  43. ↑ "Lebanese bodybuilder stripped of bronze". The Daily Times. Lahore. Agence France-Presse. 8 October 2002. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  44. ↑ Mohan, K. P. (14 October 2002). "Sunita Rani tests positive". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  45. ↑ "Asian Games records". asianathletics.org. Asian Athletics Association. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  46. ↑ Halarnkar, Samar (17 October 2002). "Sunita stripped of her medals while her officials run for cover". The Indian Express. New Delhi. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  47. ↑ "Sunita Rani stripped of medals". The Hindu. 17 October 2002. Archived from the original on 2 November 2003. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  48. ↑ "OCA to return Sunita Rani's medals". Rediff.com. 7 January 2003. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  49. ↑ Unnikrishnan, M. S. (4 February 2003). "Sunita Rani gets back her Asiad medals". The Tribune. New Delhi. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  50. ↑ "Malaysian athletes pilloried at home". Rediff. 3 October 2002.
  51. ↑ "Jobs better than medals for some Asiad athletes". Rediff. 9 October 2002.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Asian_Games