The Indian Olympic Association is planning to seek an extension of one-month from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to submit its bid for the 2019 Asian Games.
The IOA was late in waking up to the idea of submitting the bid, the last day for which is July 1. While their move has been welcomed by the OCA, the government is still awaiting the draft proposal from the IOA on its bid. “So far what we got with us is the OCA’s requirements to complete the bid process. So, we have asked the IOA to send us its plan of action, detailing with the financial implications, venues etc. Once we get that, things can move forward,” sports secretary Ajit Sharan told Deccan Herald.
A top IOA official said they would be submitting the proposal on Monday. “We are ready with the proposal and we will be presenting it to the government on Monday. We will also be writing to the OCA for extension of time. We are planning to ask for one-month time,” he said.
The evaluation of the IOA proposal by the government and the completion of bid documents could be a long-drawn affair which will require Cabinet approval, letters of support from chief minister or Delhi, Lt Governor, Sports Minister, leader of majority party and leader of opposition party, letter of guarantee on tax exemption of Marketing/Games Revenue etc.
The government cupboards, however, will show a bid from IOA for the 2019 Games given in 2010. Either the IOA can work on it, factoring in the post-2010 budget, drawbacks in the organisation of the Commonwealth Games, current OCA practices, requirements for additional stadia and other facilities etc, or else the ministry can dust them up and have a re-look in case it is keen to proceed. The Government had rejected the IOA proposal following the CWG scams. The OCA is expected to decide on the host for the 2019 Asian Games at its meeting in Incheon on September 20 during the Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4) to be held in the Korean city.
Indonesia is reported to be the front-runner to host after Vietnam pulled out because of financial constraints.