NEW DELHI — The Asian Games will include fewer sports starting in 2014.

The Olympic Council of Asia decided to reduce the number of disciplines to 35. The Asian Games are the biggest multi-sport event outside of the Olympics and will feature 42 different sports next year in Guangzhou, China.

OCA general-secretary Randhir Singh said Saturday the council made the decision at its general assembly in Singapore on Friday because the Asian Games had grown too large.

Starting in 2014 in South Korea, the event will include no more than seven non-Olympic sports.

The quadrennial event will also change its cycle to be held the year before each Summer Olympics. After 2014, the next Asian Games will be in 2019.