India eyes 2019 event as Asian Games start today

While China promises a never-seen-before opening ceremony for the Asian Games today, Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general, said India’s bid for the event in 2019 was on.

He said the IOA was in the process of sending a bid document to the Olympic Council of Asia in time to meet the February 2011 deadline. The host for the 2019 Asian Games will be decided in July next year.

Singh said the government has the blueprint of the bid submitted for the 2014 Games.

“The 2014 bid details have been cleared by the cabinet and don’t need more approvals. Only the escalation of costs needs to be factored in,” he said. “The organisers for the Games in Guangzhou are expected to rake in $50mn after spending $420mn.”

Singh said most of the infrastructure for the 2019 event is ready and that only two stadiums used during the Commonwealth Games needed to be added to the list.