Aussie switch to Asia ruled out

GUANGZHOU - Asian Olympic chief Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said on Monday that adding sporting powerhouse Australia to the region would boost the quality of competition but also damage Oceania.

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president told reporters at the Asian Games in Guangzhou that involving Australia, sixth in the medals table at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, would "increase our level of sport and level of results".

But he said such a move would badly damage Oceania.