UPSC Prelims 2007 Q38: Current Affairs – Other Sports & Personalities
Which of the following cities has been the venue of the Asian Games for the maximum
number of times from the year 1951 to the year 2006?
- (a) Delhi
- (b) Bangkok
- (c) Tokyo
- (d) Beijing
Answer: (b) Bangkok
Explanation
Asian Games — most frequent host city (1951-2006)
| City | Times hosted Asian Games, 1951-2006 |
|---|---|
| Delhi | 2 (1951, 1982) |
| Bangkok | 4 (1966, 1970, 1978, 1998) — the most |
| Tokyo | 1 (1958) |
| Beijing | 1 (1990) |
Bangkok has hosted the Asian Games more times than any other city in this period, reflecting Thailand's consistent willingness to host when other scheduled hosts withdrew.
Answer: (b) Bangkok.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Delhi hosted the Asian Games twice (1951, 1982), fewer times than Bangkok.
- (b) CORRECT. Bangkok hosted the Asian Games four times (1966, 1970, 1978, 1998) — the most of any city in this period.
- (c) Incorrect. Tokyo hosted only once (1958) in this period.
- (d) Incorrect. Beijing hosted only once (1990) in this period.
Key point
Bangkok hosted the Asian Games four times (1966, 1970, 1978, 1998) — the most of any city, 1951-2006.
Remember
Most frequent Asian Games host (1951-2006): Bangkok (4 times).
Common mistakes
- Assuming host frequency correlates with population or economic size, rather than checking the actual historical record.
- Not knowing Bangkok often stepped in as a late replacement host, boosting its total count.
- Confusing Asian Games host counts with Olympic Games host counts.
Exam tip
Bangkok's repeated "stand-in host" role (1966, 1970, 1978, 1998) makes it the most frequent Asian Games venue up to 2006.
Sources
- Olympic Council of Asia — Asian Games: past Games and host cities (Bangkok 1966, 1970, 1978 and 1998)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Asian Games