IOA is united on Asian Games bid issue: Ramachandran

Keen to convince the government on hosting 2019 Asian Games, the Indian Olympic Association today sought to present a united front with president N Ramachandran saying there is no division in the IOA top brass on the issue of bidding for the hosting rights of the Games.

Ramachandran had contradicted his Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, who last month said that the IOA was considering to bid for the 2019 Asian Games after Vietnam capital Hanoi withdrew its hosting rights in April.

But Ramachandran told PTI today that the IOA was united on the Asian Games bid issue.

"It is a misconception that the IOA is divided on the issue of 2019 Asian Games bid. I want to make it clear that there is no difference of opinion between the president and secretary general vis-a-vis Asian Games. There was no misunderstanding either," he clarified.

"My comment was that there will be many requirements imposed upon us by Olympic Council of Asia and there was not enough time for a proper bid to be submitted. But, subsequent to NSFs desiring to have IOA bid for 2019 Asian Games, the IOA has received bid documents. The bid documents contain various requirements, which were to be addressed by both the IOA and government of India.

"Today, we have written to Central and Delhi governments on what are the requirements for a complete bid. We will wait for the governments' response and then take up the matter with the OCA," Ramachandran added.

The deadline for submitting a complete bid is July 1 and the host city for 2019 Asian Games will be named on September 20 during the Incheon Asian Games.