Playing games around the Asian Games

HANOI – Jubilant crowds of Vietnamese people celebrated in 2012 the official awarding of the Asian Games’ organization to Hanoi in 2019. The hosting of the largest sporting event in Asia after the Olympics was by then perceived as the right opportunity to showcase Vietnam’s achievements not only in sports but also as a developing nation. 
 

Vietnam’s joy was however two years ago. With Vietnam struggling for the last five years to fix its economy mired in the world economic crisis, public mood dampened considerably. With high inflation figures, massive indebts as well as sluggish economic growth rates, many Vietnamese then started to question the well-being of such a decision. Hosting the games would have requested hundreds of millions of dollars of investment to upgrade facilities. For many, in tough economic times, such a lavish event appears increasingly out of touch with the reality.

 

Last Thursday, an official statement from the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung indicated finally that Hanoi was withdrawing from hosting the Asian Games 2019, indicating that it was lacking funds: “Hosting the Games could help us promote the country’s image and position. However if the hosting is not properly and successfully prepared, it will have the opposite effect,” it was said in the statement from the government. “The state budget is limited and must be prioritized for other immediate tasks.“
 

According to the news agency Associated Press, the Olympic Council of Asia on Friday said it was “surprised” by the decision, which leaves it scrambling to find a new host. “The matter will have to be discussed at length by the OCA,” Randhir Singh, the group’s secretary-general, told The Associated Press. “It’s a decision which has to be taken judiciously considering various factors. We have to decide who will be able to deliver, keeping in mind the time factor.” Vietnam now needs to officially inform the OCA about its decision. 
 

AP source points out that the event was budgeted at US$150 million by Vietnam’s Ministry of Sports. But experts say that the bill would have been likely up to five times higher. Asian Games hosted in Incheon this year will, for example, cost a billion dollar. 
 

Vietnam still indicated in its statement looking at hosting the Games but at a later point when the economic situation of the country will allow it. Following Vietnam’s withdrawal, could the games now be hosted by Surabaya in Indonesia? The city was the only other contender to host the games of 2019, following Dubai withdrawal and lost its bid in favour of Hanoi by then. 
 

Nothing is certain. Quoted by news agency Reuters, Indonesian Olympic officials voiced concerns about the likely increased price when asked if they were interested in rebidding. “We have to realize that budgeting to host such an event will be different by now,” Indonesia Olympic Committee chairperson Rita Subowo told Reuters via telephone.
 

“The government of Indonesia may be ready to take over, but what about the hosting city? We are happy that Surabaya is the hosting city of the 2021 Asian Youth Games, but we will discuss about 2019,” told Subowo. The Indonesian Olympic Committee is now waiting for the official announcement to the OCA before to take a decision. 
 

The Asian Games attracts some 45 nations from Asia with 40 sports being in competition. The first event occurred back to 1951 in New Delhi, India. The 17th edition will happen from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, Korea. 
 

(Sources: AP and Reuters)