Vietnam officially applies to host ASIAD 2019

The plan to host the 18th Asian Games (ASIAD) in 2019 has just been approved by the Government.

In addition to submitting documents to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Vietnam will establish a bidding committee to host the 18th ASIAD, headed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and prepare promotional publications about Hanoi city, the country and people of Vietnam.

According to Mr. Hoang Vinh Giang (General Secretary of the Vietnam Olympic Committee), after the Government agreed to allow Vietnam to apply to host the 2019 ASIAD, the Olympic Committee made specific calculations, which were submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as the Government a few months ago.

According to Mr. Giang, the biggest difficulty at present is the budget issue, but Vietnam will be able to organize the most economical Asiad. “According to my calculations, we will only have to spend about 150 million USD,” Mr. Giang affirmed. Explaining this modest figure, Mr. Giang said: “The low budget is because we do not have to build many competition venues.

It is known that in the planning directed by the Government, Hanoi will reserve 200 hectares in the Co Loa area to be called the Hanoi Asian Games and Olympic Sports Area. In addition, there will be about 50 hectares to build an athlete village in the suburbs of Hanoi. Combined with 247 hectares in My Dinh, plus all the facilities from SEA Games 22, AIG 3, Vietnam is confident that it will be able to host the 18th Asian Games in 2019.

The only new facility that needs to be built is a velodrome with seating for about 3,000. Some new sports that are not yet popular in Vietnam such as baseball, rugby and hockey, Vietnam only needs to build simple facilities so that they can later be converted into a football training complex or a professional football training school.

According to OCA's plan, ASIAD 18 will be held in November 2019. If hosted, in addition to Hanoi as the main competition venue, there will be 14 other venues in the following provinces and cities: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Binh Thuan, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Ha Nam and Phu Tho.

It is expected that 45 Asian countries and territories will participate in the 18th ASIAD with about 10,000 coaches and athletes competing in 35 sports including: Archery, Gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Aquatics, Fencing, Judo, Shooting, Wrestling, Golf, Sepak Takraw, Kabaddi, Karatedo, Taekwondo, Handball, Rowing, Canoe-kayak, Basketball, Boxing, Volleyball, Football, Sailing, Wushu, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Triathlon, Squash, Shuttlecock, Chess, Tennis, Baseball, Grass Hockey, Rugby, Modern Pentathlon.

The OCA confirmed that there are four candidates submitting their bids: Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Indonesia chose Surabaya, Taiwan chose Kaohsiung, and the UAE wanted to host the Games in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The three candidates that have just withdrawn are Hong Kong (China), Malaysia and India.

On the sidelines of the World Sports Ministers Conference on April 16, OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah stated: “We support Vietnam in its bid to host the 18th ASIAD in 2019. During the process of participating in the bid to host this Games, if Vietnam needs help, the OCA will be ready.”

The OCA plenary session taking place on November 3 in Macau (China) will announce the host of the 18th ASIAD./.

According to VOV - DT