An Asian Games history was made on Thursday during a draw for seven team sports at the JS Luwansa Hotel and Convention Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday.

The Olympic code of  ‘COR’ - standing for unified Korea - appeared for the first time in Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) protocol after the OCA approved a proposal from North Korea and South Korea on June 28 to form a joint team for women’s basketball, dragon boat and rowing.

The unified team in three sports and six events will be competing as 'Korea' under the unification flag and using the Korean folk song 'Arirang' as the anthem, said the OCA in a statement.

It noted that in women’s basketball, the defending Asian Games champions South Korea will have North Korean players alongside them at the 18th Asian Games, which will run from August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang.

The unified Korean team was drawn with Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and India in Group X, while China, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Mongolia will play in Group Y.

“I think it is very good to have a unified team because it will promote friendship between the two sides of the Korean peninsula.

"The International Olympic Committee has already encouraged both Koreas to change, so the OCA will follow the IOC," said the OCA’s life vice-president Wei Jizhong as quoted in the statement.

Wei also announced that the 18th Asian Games had attracted the largest number of athletes in history, with between 10,500 and 11,000 expected to take part in 40 sports and 67 disciplines. 

The previous highest was 9,704 at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in 2010.

The draw for seven team sports involved 36 countries and regions and took place as the countdown clock displayed 44 days to the opening ceremony on Aug 18.