East Chinese city to host 3rd Asian Beach Games in 2012

BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Haiyang, a coastal city in east China's Shandong province, will host the 3rd Asian Beach Games in 2012.

The Olympic Council of Asia, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Haiyang municipal government signed up to the host city contract here on Sunday.

The biennial Asian Beach Games, together with the Asian Games, the Asian Winter Games and the Asian Indoor Games, are four major comprehensive sporting events in Asia.

The first Asian Beach Games was held on Bali Island in Indonesia, and the second edition in Muscat, the capital of Oman.

The Asian Beach Games feature beach volleyball, beach football, beach handball, dragon boat, triathlon and skiing.