Comprehensive document needed for Asiad bid: Govt

The Sports Ministry has given the Indian Olympic Association time till Thursday to submit a comprehensive document with all the financial details if it wants to get the government's permission to bid for the 2019 Asian Games.

The ministry said the national Olympic body made a significant delay in informing the government of its decision to bid for the 2019 Asian Games, giving it very little time to consult with various parties concerned.

Sports Minister M S Gill said the government has to abide by the system and cannot merely consider any abrupt proposal.

"To consider any such great event which has major financial and other implications, there is a system. IOA has to prepare a comprehensive document with financial and other details and has to pass a formal resolution in its executive body and then present it to the Sports Ministry," Gill said.

"The Sports Ministry then has to consult the Finance Ministry, Home Ministry, Planning Commission and the Delhi government and only after that the Ministry can take it to the Cabinet, which makes the final decision.

"Just casual talks in the press has no meaning. When such a document is presented to us, we will examine it," he said.

In a letter written to IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh on July 8, the Sports Ministry's Under Secretary SPS Tomar said the ministry needs a comprehensive document to consider such a proposal.

"It is noted from your reply that the decision to bid for 2019 Asian Games was taken at the AGM of IOA held on 7.12.2009. Given the enormity of the factors involved in hosting such a major sporting event, it is not understood as to why it took IOA nearly four months to inform this

department of their decision to bid for the Games," the ministry's letter said.

"Further, the first communication received from IOA on this matter was in the form of an abrupt email dated 28.4.2010 attaching a draft letter of guarantee to be issued by the Host City Government. Since the decision to bid for a major sporting event like Asian Games requires government endorsement at the highest level, IOA was expected to submit

comprehensive documentation, giving adequate lead time to the Government to hold inter-ministerial consultations," it said.

"Unfortunately, in the instant case, IOA has neither provided the department with the requisite documentation nor has it given the department adequate time to appraise the proposal in consultation with all concerned, including the Government of Delhi.