Five years too short to prepare for hosting Asian Games
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A final decision on a country that will replace Vietnam as hosts of the 2019 Asian Games will be made in September and that being the case, the question is whether Thailand, which has hosted many Games when others had thrown their hands up, will throw its
Vietnam laid out comprehensive plans to host the Games in June 2011 and won the bid in November 2012. The quadrennial sporting showcase is expected to attract over 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories in 35 sports.
Things turned sour when Vietnam backed out last month, claiming economic downturn and lack of experience in hosting such a mega-event as the two main reasons for developing cold feet.
Malaysia and Indonesia have expressed their willingness to step in as a replacement, but, according to sources, Rita Subowo, chairman of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia, appeared to distance his country from the bid. Malaysia’s Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said they are not interested.
Last Tuesday, the Indian Olympic Association, which lost the bid to host this year’s Asian Games to Incheon in 2007, expressed its strong desire to stage the 2019 edition. However, it has to bank on the new central government that will be set up this month-end to approve the plan. The final decision to pick the hosts will be made on September 20 during the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea between September 19 to October 4.
Some have wondered why Thailand, which has magnanimously hosted more Asian Games than any other country, did not raise their hands.
In fact, the Kingdom has already ruled itself out because of the shortage of time to prepare for the Games. General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, president of the Olympic Committee of Thailand, was very clear in saying that five years is too short for any country, let alone Thailand.
Hosting the Games means investing in infrastructure, people’s skills and branding. On top priority is the safety of athletes and officials.
It’s clear that Thailand is suffering from general slowdown in economic activity and hosting the Games would mean more public debt and racking up more deficit figures in the national budget. Add to it, the political instability that is making things worse in the country. The capital Bangkok is often paralysed by a large number of protesters from all walks of life. Safety in such a situation is unreliable.
Therefore, hosting the 2019 Games is too risky for Thailand. We may need more than five years to construct stadiums and facilities at a huge cost. Getting sponsorship, during these uncertain times, is a challenging task even for the best of marketing honchos.
So the best option for the Kingdom is to pass on the chance.
