Koreans used unethical means to get Asian Games: IOA

NEW DELHI: A week after losing its bid to stage 2014 Asian Games in Delhi, India on Thursday cried foul and accused South Koreans of using unethical means to get the Games awarded to the city of Incheon.

The Koreans offered 'carrots' to the 45-member Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) which awarded the Games to Incheon after a two-day meeting in Kuwait where India and Korea lobbied hard.

A bitter Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi had later blamed Union Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar's opposition to the staging of the Games for the loss to Korea.

IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh gave additional reasons for Korea's victory including its announcement of $20 million offer to OCA for training and equipment of athletes of participating nations.

"While Korea announced that the money will be given to OCA which in turn would distribute it among National Olympic
Councils (NOCs) as per its descretion. It was like offering a carrot to the OCA", he said here.

The Indian delegation, he said, had all the information about 'opposition tactics' but it was not possible to match them even during the presentation.

During their presentation, the Koreans waved mineral water bottles served to the delegates at the meeting and reminded them, "the water being served here is also from Korea".