The Jakarta 2018 Asian Games are set to feature 42 sports, it was confirmed at the sixth meeting of the OCA Coordination Committee today ©OCA

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that 42 sports and 484 events will be contested at the 2018 Asian Games, due to be held jointly in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia.

Speaking after the sixth meeting of the OCA Coordination Committee today, the Committee chairman, Tsunekazu Takeda, confirmed the decision on the number of sports and competitions.

"Today we finalised the number of sports at 42 and the number of events at 484," said Takeda, the President of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

"This is the maximum number of sports and events, and neither figure will be increased.

"The number may be reduced and we will check again in one month.

"Overall the OCA is very satisfied with the result of this meeting and I am confident the Asian Games in 2018 will be a great success."

At a meeting in Sapporo last month 44 sports were proposed for inclusion.

The drop to 42 has arisen following the "merging" of sports as opposed to the removal of any.

Soft tennis has been mixed with tennis, rather than being a separate sport, while roller skating and skateboarding have also been grouped together.

One sport of "martial arts" is also proposed, consisting of ju-jitsu, kurash, sambo, wushu and pencak silat.

All 28 full Summer Olympic sports are set to appear along with baseball and softball, karate, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing, which will all appear on the programme at Tokyo 2020.

Others included for next year's event are bowling, bridge, cricket, kabaddi, sepak takraw and squash.

Paragliding and jet ski have also been included.

44 sports were proposed last month but organisers have now confirmed 42 ©ITG
44 sports were proposed last month but organisers have now confirmed 42 ©ITG

A record number of 42 sports appeared at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

The programme was reduced to 36 sports at Incheon 2014 following a decision at the 2009 OCA General Assembly in Singapore.

Those in attendance at the meeting, which began in Palembang yesterday and finished in Jakarta today, also heard presentations on marketing, broadcasting, anti-doping, the Torch Relay, games promotion, volunteers and protocol.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 volunteers will be recruited, and the Opening and Closing ceremonies at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta will feature around 10,000 performers, the Committee members heard.

A series of test events in 10 sports will be conducted in Jakarta in October and November, while all sports on the programme will be tested in the necessary venue prior to the start of the Games.

Action in the two cities will take place between August 18 and September 2 next year.