Indonesia keen to press for 2019 Asian Games
Reuters - Tuesday 22 March 2011, 09:01
JAKARTA, March 22 (Reuters) - A simmering row over axed
sports at this year's Southeast Asian Games have not harmed
Indonesia's chances of staging the region's biggest event, the
country's sports council has said.
Despite recent complaints over the scrapping of billiards,
snooker and women's football for November's SEA Games in
Indonesia, the national sports council (KONI) insists they have
a good chance of hosting the larger scale gathering in 2019.
"We have an opportunity to host the 2019 Asian Games without
having to go through a bidding process," KONI chairwoman Rita
Subowo was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post, referring to
the Olympic Council of Asia's backing for an Indonesian bid.
"If we can't do it then, our second opportunity will be in
2023, but that will have to be through a bidding process," she
added.
"This all depends on the government. First, there's the
financial issue that we have to discuss, then the preparations
and the time frame, whether it will clash with the elections or
others."
Other candidates to have expressed interest in a bid for the
2019 Games include Vietnam, India, Taiwan and the United Arab
Emirates.
Indonesia previously hosted the Asian Games in 1962 and will
host the 26th SEA Games in the Sumatran city of Palembang.
As well as the scrapping of some events, Games organisers
have also been criticised by participating nations for reducing
the shooting, cycling and sailing programmes.