Verma hints at shifting goalposts

The Afro-Asian Games is riddled with variables but, with the event less than three months away, you8217;d be forgiven for thinking that at least the venue is fixed.

Not so, apparently, because Sports Minister Vikram Verma told Parliament today that the cabinet was 8216;8216;yet to give approval8217;8217; to Hyderabad staging the first edition of the Games.

The minister8217;s statement is intriguing, not least in its timing: coinciding with the visit of a team from the Commonwealth Games Federation is inspecting India8217;s bid for the 2010 Games.

More important, however, the Indian Olympic Association 8212; the AAG8217;s organising body 8212; has already issued the invitations with Hyderabad as the host city and entries have been accepted from all the participating nations from Africa and Asia.