The 3^rd Asian Beach Games successfully took place in Haiyang city in Shandong province from June 16^th to 22^nd. The Games were another major international multisport event held in China following the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen.  Around 1,600 athletes from 45 member countries and regions of the Olympic Council of Asia participated in the Games. This was the 2^nd time Macao participated in the Asian Beach Games and  a delegation of 45 athletes was sent to compete in two events: beach volleyball and dragon boat.

The Asian Beach Games, held once every two years, are one of the five most important Asia’s multisports events organized by the Olympic Council of Asia. This year, the Games consisted of 13 sports and 49 events including beach basketball, beach volleyball, beach Kabaddi, beach handball, beach cricket, beach Sepak Takraw, paragliding, windsurfing, rollerblading, rock-climbing and wakeboard. Of these rock-climbing and rollerblades were included as an Asian Beach Games event for the first time. Beach volleyball was the only Olympic sport, with the remaining 12 events being non-Olympic sports.

Under the slogan “Waves, Sunshine, Passion and Fashion”, athletes, coaches and guests from Asia gathered to exchange and experience the joy of sports, with the aim of promoting beach sports as a recreational Sport For All. The athletes from Macao all benefited from the Games; not only enhancing their skills, but also forming valuable friendships.

The 4^th Asian Beach Games will be held in Phuket, Thailand in 2014.