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Journalism of Courage
New delhi, Sept 1: India’s chance of hosting the 2002 Asian Games here gained momentum with Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) vice president Latif Butt of Pakistan openly supporting New Delhi’s bid in case Pusan (South Korea) opts out.
Talking to mediapersons here today on his way to Lahore Latif Butt said New Delhi has very good chances of holding the next Asiad because its bid is very attractive. The OCA has made it clear to the Pusan Asian Games organising committee (PAGOC) that there was no way it (committee) can get out of the promises made by them in 1996 while bidding for the Games Butt said.
The PAGOC had committed free airfare, boarding and lodging for all the participants. They won the bid on this basis and now we are surprised that they are trying to back out of that commitment, Butt said.
Latif Butt, who attended the OCA excecutive committee meeting at Tashkant to discuss about the 2006 Asiad venue, said the members were stunned to hear from the PAGOC that it was not in a position to pay for the participants. He said in case PAGOC backs out New Delhi stands a reasonably good chance to get the Games because it is only the IOA which has offered free airfare and hospitality to all the participants. Butt was also of the view that India has enough expertise to host the Games at a short notice. Delhi has already held the Games twice. Also the inagural Afro-Asian Games are also scheduled to be held here next year.
Pakistan shifts SAF venue to Islamabad: Pakistan has shifted SAF Games venue from Peshawar to Islamabad following the country’s inability to build "entire infrastructure" in the North-West frontier province.
"The next SAF Games will be held in Islamabad and we promise a better organisation," Pakistan Olympic Association (POA)’s secretary-general Latif Butt said.
