Indian Olympic Association Interested In Hosting 2019 Asian Games

Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajeev Mehta on Tuesday said that the IOA "expressed a strong desire to stage the 2019 Asian Games following the withdrawal of Vietnam capital Hanoi and is banking on the next central government to approve the plan," according to the PTI. Mehta said in case India hosts the 2019 Asian Games, "the IOA will not exercise financial powers and will only organise the multi-sporting event, a remark which appeared to stem from the experience of 2010 Commonwealth Games corruption scandal." Mehta: "We want to host 2019 Asian Games after Vietnam’s withdrawal. We have all the infrastructure in Delhi. I feel it’s a matter of getting government approval." Hanoi was chosen in '12 to host the 18th Asian Games, but last month, "the Vietnamese capital withdrew due to economic pressures." Indonesia "has expressed its willingness to step in as a replacement and a final decision on the host city will be decided on September 20 during the Incheon Asian Games" (PTI, 5/6).