The games were originally scheduled for September this year, but organizers postponed them in May as China tried to stamp out a large COVID-19 resurgence in several parts of the country.

The event will now be held in Hangzhou from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8, 2023, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said.

Hangzhou lies less than 200 kilometers from the country's biggest city Shanghai, which endured a months-long lockdown earlier this year as part of the ruling Communist Party's zero-tolerance approach to the virus.

The OCA said on Tuesday that the new dates were chosen to avoid "conflict with other major international sporting events".

The Hangzhou organizing committee vowed to "present a wonderful and marvelous sports and cultural event with Chinese characteristics", in a statement confirming the new dates.

China is the last major economy committed to stamping out domestic spread of the virus through harsh lockdowns, mass testing and strict controls on international travel.

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