UIAA was woriking to include Sports Climbing as one of the Olympic events. The prerequisite set by Olympic Committee was to hold 50 world cup sports climbing competition before it got the endorsement for inclusion. But it did not gain the required momentum until the General Assembly in Matsumoto. This General Meeting endorsed and extended its support to hold the world class climbing competition in a more competition like and more organized way in Asia and all over the world. This was felt and decided in the light of fewer number of such competitions held in the past in Asia, South America and Africa, however, this kind of competition were gaining much popularity in North America and European countries.

Among 17 Committee members in UIAA, Japan was the only member where until then none of the UIAA General Meeting was held. Therefore, at the General Assembly held in Holland in 1990, a proposal to that effect was presented by American Alpine Club and seconded by Indian Mountaineering Foundation. This proposal was overwhelmingly adopted by the Assembly. Friends of UIAA had a very high expectation that JMA could handle it very smoothly and professionally.

But, back in Japan, JMA was not really prepared for it. It seemed daunting task because unlike other countries there was no government support to this kind of big international conference. All the economic, managerial and organizational burdens were on the shoulders of the then JMA officials. Along with these difficulties, language barrier was one of the challenges in communicating the whole process. However, with the support of JMA officials and members it all went well. Nowadays, many Japanese cities have convention centres and international conference have become regular features.

On the request of JMA, Matsumoto, the gateway city to Kamikochi Alps region, made a generous offer to hold this UIAA General Assembly in October 1992, a year after the Hungary UIAA General Assembly in 1991.