The Hindu : Sport : Hyderabad a likely venue?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 11, 2005

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Hyderabad a likely venue?

V. V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad may be projected as one of the possible venues to host the sailing and triathlon events of the 2014 Asian Games for which India is going to bid very soon. According to official sources the IOA has sought an approval from the AP state Government before incorporating the city's name as one of the probable host for the Games.

"We have to submit a set of documents including a list of venues which are willing to host various disciplines of the Games. And since Hyderabad has an impressive record of hosting the 2002 National Games and the inaugural Afro-Asian Games, the IOA felt that it could be a good choice," the source said.

"What prompted IOA to choose Hyderabad as a venue was the fact that it has an inland lake (Hussain Sagar) in the city and many international events including the Asia-Pacific meets have been hosted here. The available infrastructure and manpower with organisational skills were the plus points which made IOA consider Hyderabad favourably," the source said.

Second option

Mumbai is the second option if Hyderabad backs out. For the record, Hyderabad will host the Asian rowing championship later this year.

The onus is now on the State government to respond and thereby facilitate the IOA to include Hyderabad as one of the cities willing to host the Games' disciplines.

Meanwhile, it has been ruled out that any of the disciplines of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi may be shifted outside the national capital. "The Games are bid for a particular city and only that city has the right to host the disciplines. Consequently no other city has a chance," the source said.

It was also learnt that the Commonwealth Games Federation has decided in principle to let the hosts of 2010 edition (Delhi) to include a "few more new disciplines" which will be identified soon.

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