Asiad Australia

DOHA, Dec 5 (Reuters) Australia should not be admitted to the Asian Games because it would be unfair on the other countries in Oceania, Asia's Olympic chief said today.

Ahmad Al-Fahad Al Sabah also said he thought the decision to take the Australians under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) umbrella was a mistake.

''If Australia comes to the Asian Games we are killing about 16 other nations -- New Zealand, all those other small countries -- will not find a good environment for the development of their sport,'' the president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) told a news conference at the 15th Asian Games today.

''We have to support Oceania ... to continue to host their games, just to make sure there will be a development sport on the other side of the world in the Asian continent.

''In Asia there are 45 countries ... it's enough for our Games and competitions, let them develop their sport.'' OCA vice president Manuel Silverio told China's Xinhua news agency earlier this week that Australia's participation at the Asian Games was possible.

Football Federation Australia broke away from Oceania in January this year and their teams will play in Asia's qualifying competitions for future Olympics and World Cups.

''I think it's a big mistake to bring Australia to our football,'' Al Sabah said. ''It was a big mistake by AFC, maybe they are inside only for the marketing and sponsorship view.

''Finance is a major thing but not the most important thing,'' the Kuwaiti added. ''The most important thing is the ideas and goals of the (Olympic) movement, then we have to look at sport to look at continued development.'' But Al Sabah said an Australian request to take part in the Asian Indoor Games in Macau next October would receive serious consideration.

Reuters DH RS2348