“We are not closing the door (on Australia),” OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah told Reuters in an interview on Monday.
“For us they would add value to our Games, for our income, for our organization, for our technical level and even for our results ... it would be something good for Asia.
“But if Australia goes you are killing the Oceania zone. We have to give them a chance to develop that zone with Australia.”
Australia’s football confederation broke away from Oceania in 2006 to join the Asian Football Confederation and other Australian sports have long yearned for tougher competition than is provided by the clutch of Pacific nations that comprise the bloc.
“It’s not the last resolution (but) we don’t want to be selfish and forget the benefit of other NOCs (National Olympic Committees) in the region of Oceania,” said Sheikh Ahmad, wearing a traditional gown at a VIP room at the Asian Games media village.
Sheikh Ahmad, a former military officer in the Kuwait army, said the Guangzhou Asian Games that opened on Friday had proved a success and would generate record marketing revenues.
“About $520 million, this is a big number for us in the Asian Games,” he said.
“This is the biggest in the history of the Asian Games. Doha (in 2006) was higher than Busan (2002).”
However, concerns have been raised about heavy security measures at venues and half-empty stands for events that were officially sold out, the Sheikh added.
China has thrown a security blanket on the southern city, with some 100,000 security personnel deployed and venues employing multiple security checkpoints for athletes, officials and fans.
“Like every other Games ... always you will find some area or you have to solve some problem,” said the Sheikh.
“I am hearing a little bit about the high-security procedures but you have to understand it’s because of the global security system now after (the) 9-11 (attacks) and ... the war on terror.
“But even with that we have to cooperate with the organizing committee to decrease some of the areas which we think has no need to have double check points. I think we are reaching a good solution now.”
Sheikh Ahmad said another 400,000 tickets would be sold to the public for the remaining Games events and blamed the half-empty stadiums on corporate ticket-holders not showing up, while members of the public had been turned away.
“Even that (all tickets were sold) we found some space in the venues for the spectators and we were wondering why people who received these tickets weren’t coming,” he added.
“Is it because of security or losing interest or they don’t like this kind of sport?
“I believe some people they don’t like to go because of traffic or security, they prefer to see it on TV.”
Sheikh Ahmad confirmed on Monday that the OCA had endorsed the retention of cricket and karate for the 2014 Incheon Games in South Korea which will have the sport roster cut to 35 after Guangzhou’s bloated program of 42.
He also denied any friction between Incheon organizers at the OCA over the choice of the seven non-Olympic sports after media reports said the South Koreans had wanted cricket and karate cut in favor of sports like baseball, bowling and the Chinese martial art of Wushu.
“We have a good understanding with the Incheon organizing committee for the sporting program ... we will announce it later after we reach understanding with them,” said the Sheikh.
