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2019 Asiad: Sports ministry asks for budget-related clarifications

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India's chances of hosting the 2019 Asian Games in New Delhi have brightened with the sports ministry asking Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to come up with a few clarifications regarding the budgeting within the next fortnight before giving a final go ahead.

The all-important meeting was attended by sports secretary Ajit Mohan Sharan and IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta amongst others here on Monday.

According to a reliable sports ministry source, this step has been taken in order to avoid the repeat of earlier experiences where India's image had taken a hit by corruption scandals during the course of holding 2010 Commonwealth Games.

"Sports ministry has asked for certain clarifications regarding cost of infrastructure, stadium facelift and Games Village before clearing our bid request," informed Mehta after the meeting late on Monday.
"We are now going to write to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to give us 15 more days to submit our formal bid for the Games," he added.

However, when contacted a senior OCA official told dna that "it should not be a problem to extend the deadline for India". Let IOA write to us formally and assure us that India is serious for the bid. The extension should be granted."

Mehta has further hinted that once OCA's nod has been received, "IOA will try and seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

"We will seek request the PM to not let this historic opportunity of hosting 2019 Games go waste. We're hopeful that India can host a world-class Games," added Mehta.

The IOA secretary general was carrying India's Asian Games bid papers that were submitted to OCA before making a formal bid for Incheon, South Korea.

dna has reliably learnt that cost of organising Games should be in the tune of Rs300 crore while DDA can actually make profit, like Commonwealth Games, while building the Village and then selling it at profit.

"The major money that India spent during the CWG was on stadia's facelift. But this time around, these newly-built stadia only need minor facelift and SAI has already been getting money every year for their upkeep," said the IOA official.

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