Indian Olympic Association re-iterates its stand to host South Asian Games early next year

Hardening its stand on hosting the South Asian Games early next year, the Indian Olympic Association on Wednesaday said that it would be a "standing shame" for the country if it fails to honour the commitment to conduct the regional event.

The IOA, in its Special General Body Meeting here, "unanimously" resolved to conduct the Games in the country, which has been allotted to it on rotational basis, and urged the government to give clearance to host the SAG next year.

It said that the GBM felt it would be a standing shame for the country if it fails to honour the commitment to host the SAG because India is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Addressing the meeting, IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the reason given by the Sports Ministry seeking the deferment of the SAG were flimsy and not convincing.

"We have already written to the Prime Minister on this issue and now we will meet him to known the Government's stand to end the prevailing uncertainty," he said in an IOA release.

IOA had earlier sought the Government's approval to conduct the Games in the Capital in January 2013.

However, the Sports Ministry had written to the IOA last month, asking the national sports apex body to host the Games after the second half of 2014, citing administrative difficulties in Delhi due to Assembly elections.

Malhotra said if the Games cannot be held in Delhi due to some technical reasons, the venue can be shifted to any other state that has infrastructure of international standard.

He said several states have offered to hosts the Games.

"We we are awaiting Government's response. Interestingly even the Delhi Government has shown its keenness to conduct the Games in the capital," he said.