South Korea and Pakistan had previously withdrawn from hosting the Asian Games.

The Asian Games have had to change host countries twice due to financial problems and the threat of war.

The men's 100m race took place at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

The first time the Asian Olympic Committee changed the host of the Asian Games was when Seoul, South Korea, announced it was withdrawing its bid to host the 1970 Games. The South Korean nation then admitted to financial difficulties and concerns about the risk of war with its neighbor, North Korea.

Due to hosting the World Trade Fair at the same time, Japan declined to replace South Korea as the host of the Games. Ultimately, the 1970 Asian Games still took place thanks to a timely "emergency" effort from Bangkok (Thailand), the previous host city. South Korea had to provide partial financial support for Bangkok to host the Games for the second consecutive time.

In 1978, Thailand's capital continued to play a "firefighting" role in hosting the Asian Games, as two countries repeatedly "accepted the bid and then refused." Initially, Pakistan withdrew due to financial difficulties and conflicts with its two neighbors, Bangladesh and India. The bid then passed to Singapore, but after intense debate about whether or not to host, the island nation also withdrew.

TD (compiled)