Vietnam Consider Withdrawing 2019 Asian Games

[Thaiyotakamli]

Joke, if cant afford then don't bid, let Singapore host the major event

 

 

VIETNAM PM COULD PULL PLUG ASIAN GAMES

 

 

http://www.thanhniennews.com/sports/vietnam-pm-could-pull-plug-on-asian-games-25086.html

 

 

 

 

Vietnam built a number of stadiums and sporting venues for the 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that have rarely, if ever, been used since.

 

 

Hanois 1,000th Birthday celebration in 2010 prompted another massive bout of wasteful spending as a number of streets, bridges and other infrastructure built for the event collapsed or quickly deteriorated due to rushed and sloppy construction.

In a country that has been notorious for squandering taxpayers money on hosting extravagant and unnecessary events, the public has been less than jubilant since Hanoi was picked to host the 2019 Asian Games (Asiad) two years ago.

Facing strict criticism over the high (and seemingly escalating) cost of hosting the sporting event amid economic difficulties and a lack of sports infrastructure, Vietnam is considering withdrawing from the regions largest sporting event, which would have made it the first Southeast Asian nation for 20 years to host the showpiece competition.

At a regular meeting of the central government on April 1, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to submit a detailed plan on hosting the quadrennial 2019 Asiad.

Dung said so far the ministry only reported to the National Assembly, Vietnams legislature, about hosting the event.

"I havent heard anything and I am not clear on anything, he said at the meeting.

Dung said relevant agencies have to handle the issue thoughtfully.

We agreed to host Asiad but it should only be carried out, with approval from the Prime Minister, when there is a feasible plan. Otherwise, [Vietnam] wont host [the event], he said.

Dung instructed his deputy Vu Duc Dam and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh to report to him about the issue this week. The ball will then be in Dungs court to decide whether Vietnam will host the event.

Earlier, at a meeting to discuss the issue last Saturday, Deputy PM Dam had told relevant agencies to consider withdrawing from hosting the event.

Despite several ministry representatives saying it would be very difficult for Vietnam to do so, Dam instructed relevant agencies to touch base with the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) and involved partners on a withdrawal plan.

 

People who say Vietnam will have to pay fine of $1 million to the Olympic Committee of Asia is incorrect. There has never been any case of paying fines under such circumstances in the past, he said.

 

 

However, he said it would be difficult for other Asian countries to host the event if Vietnam withdraws from hosting the 2019 Asiad.

 

 

Currently, no other Asian countries are eager to host Asiad for Vietnam. Indonesia competed for hosting the event and lost but currently, they are not prepared to host Asiad.

 

Turkmenistan used to be interested in the event but they just won the race to host the 2017 Asian Indoor Games and will be unable to host another continental sporting event in such a short time.

 

Vietweek asked OCA about what would be in the offing should Vietnam pull the plug, but had yet to get a reply at the time of going to press.

In 2012, Hanoi won the vote over Surabaya of Indonesia in a two-city race. Dubai reportedly pulled out at the last minute saying it wanted to focus on future bids. Earlier, four other potential bidders, including Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi and Hong Kong had withdrawn, mostly for financial reasons.

Questionable plan

Ever since, critics have said that organizing such a big event would result in an economic burden and that the actual cost of hosting the Asiad would be much higher than the estimated amount.

When bidding for the event in 2012, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism estimated the cost would be US$150 million, which was already criticized as too high for Vietnam.

But at a meeting last month, Deputy Finance Minister Do Hoang Tuan Anh quoted a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plan as saying that the government will have to prepare around $300 million for the event, almost doubling the initial estimate.

The figure did not include VND820 billion ($38.67 million) in estimated expenses for the training of Vietnamese athletes who would take part in the Games, he said.

In several documents about hosting the 18th Asiad, the finance ministry showed it was suspicious of the sports ministrys plan, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported.

In a document dated January 2013, the finance ministry said the Asiad would be much bigger than South East Asian Games 2003 but the planners only estimated cost as 1.2 times higher.

In another document last July, the finance ministry asked how the sports ministry would enlist private investment for 72 percent of the cost as planned.

The finance ministry has repeatedly asked the sports ministry to reconsider hosting the event because Vietnams economy is in the doldrums and the state exchequer should prioritize urgent social welfare issues.

Last week, Vuong Bich Thang, general director of the Sports Department, said the cost would not exceed $150 million and that was is reasonable to host Asiad with that amount.

We think what residents are concerned about the most is whether the money will be wasted or siphoned off during carrying out the plan, he said.

Not the right time

Bui Quang Vinh, Minister of Planning and Investment, told Tuoi Tre in an interview on March 31 that Vietnam should not host the Asiad.

The ministry of planning and investment has said $150 million is not enough to host the Asiad, he said.

Former chairman of Vietnam Olympic Committee Ha Quang Du said this is not the right time for Vietnam to host the Asian Games.

Relevant authorities should listen to the opinions of the public to see if they should continue with the plan or not, he said.

Its not right to say hosting Asiad is to promote the countrys image. During dozens of years of economic reforms, we have done a number of things to promote the country and the world knew about us, he said.

He also said that unlike the World Cup, an Asiad would not have significant impact on attracting international tourists.

Le Nhu Tien, a senior lawmaker, said he was concerned by high costs for hosting the event the most.

He said Qatar spent $2.8 billion for the 2006 Asiad and China spent nearly $20 billion for the event in 2010.

South Korea spent $1.62 billion, how could Vietnam host the 18th Asiad with $150 million? he said.

Who will be responsible if costs for the event increase several times?

Vietnam hosted the South East Asian Games in 2003 and many facilities built for the event have been criticized as wasteful because they have not been used for sporting purposes later.

Nguyen Sy Cuong, another lawmaker, said sports minister Hoang Tuan Anh had not responded to his question during a recent meeting about how sports authorities would plan to use the facilities after the major event.

There is a reality that [sport authorities] only focused on receiving money without caring about permanent use. Many sport facilities have been used for other purposes, he said.

I think Vietnam should withdraw and should think that being fined once [for withdrawing] is still not worse than wasting money on costly sport facilities that can be used only once.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Thaiyotakamli

[Neost]

Hosting this type of event needs a lot of money. We all better tiam tiam unless there are clear economic benefits to do so.

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Hosting this type of event needs a lot of money. We all better tiam tiam unless there are clear economic benefits to do so.

 

Its ok since YOG mini-star not in-charge ....

 

cos if target spending 1 billion and over spend by 3 times, its 'an honest mistake. let move on'