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A new Olympic Council of Asia and Oceania agreement could open the door to future Asian Games participation, after both committees agreed on Wednesday (3rd December) to allow Oceania to participate in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.

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It's a move that could see Oceania nations one day taking part in the Asian Games.

The Asian and Oceania Olympic committees have signed an agreement to allow Oceania to participate in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan.

Olympic Council Of Asia President, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

SOUNDBITE: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, Olympic Council Of Asia President

"This is now the first step for co-operation to study it and make our analysis and to continue for more cooperation, in the end I think the size of 62 or 63 plus seven is a reasonable size."

2017 will be the first time the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games have taken place in Central Asia.

A record 8,000 athletes and officials from 62 National Olympic Committees will travel to Ashgabat for the event.

Dr Robin Mitchell is the president of the Oceania National Olympic Committees.

SOUNDBITE: Dr Robin Mitchell, Oceania National Olympic Committees President

"Many, many organisations in Asia work very closely with Oceania so for us we see it as a natural progression from the smaller members of a bigger family to join with you and in particular to get competition at an appropriate level for the smaller countries of the Pacific."