NEW DELHI, FEB 28: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) finally broke its silence and announced that it had formally bid for the 15th Asian Games in 2006. For a better part of the last two months, all the IOA had been doing was to trying to seek a formal approval of the bid from the City of New Delhi and consent from the Central government to make a bid for the Games.Announcing this, IOA President Suresh Kalmadi said the decision to make the bid was taken after the Union government had given its consent to the proposal. The Delhi Government, through a letter from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, and the city administration through Mayor Meera Kanwaria, also indicated their support.Curiously, for a country that has twice before bid and won the honour of hosting an Asian Games - in 1951 and 1982 - India reacted rather late this time. With the deadline of February 29 hanging over its head, the IOA got down the task in right earnest only in January and they had their first meeting only on January 11.The IOA and its president hope that in the event of the Games being allotted to Delhi, the existing infrastructure, most of which was created for the 1982 Games, would be upgraded. ``This will substantially reduce the financial burden on the government. At the same time it will help Delhi get a face lift as it got in 1982,'' said Kalmadi.According to Kalmadi, the conduct of Asian Games cane bring in a lot of money. He said that Thailand in 1998 raised close to US $ 100 million and Pusan in 2002 is expected to come close to US $ 160 million. So he expected the revenue to be in excess of US $ 200 or even 250 million by 2006.PTI adds: Delhi will vie with Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, and the final decision on awarding the Games will be made in November at an Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) meeting, likely to be held at Pusan, South Korea. Hong Kong's bid will have the backing of China.The IOA sent the ``letter of intent'' to OCA on February 25. New Delhiwas chosen over Mumbai, the only other city in contention, as the capital had the necessary infrastructure in place.``The Maharashtra government discussed the issue at its Cabinet meeting, but could not come to a decision and we were running out of time,'' he revealed at a press conference.``There is time till November for us to canvass for the Games and we've got a very good chance, I would say excellent,'' Kalmadi said.Kalmadi said a budget was yet to be worked out, but IOA had requested that the Centre abolish income tax on contributions to sports championships to attract corporate support.
