VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam will carry out a campaign to canvas for the right to host the Asian Games 2019.

 

Vietnam has sent its application to the Asian Olympic Council. Hosting ASIAD 2019 is the sports sector’s important goal in its development strategy from 2011 to 2020.

 

Hoang Vinh Giang, Vice Chair cum Secretary General of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, the committee is working out a detailed canvas plan to submit to the government for approval.

 

ASIAD is one of the most important sports events in Asia, so big countries in Asia want to host the event. Malaysia, a big rival in the race for the host of ASIAD 2019, has withdrawn. Giang said that Vietnam has only one rival now: the United Arab Emirates. According to Giang, the UAE is strong in finance but it doesn’t have good sports facilities.

 

Many people worried that Vietnam is incapable to organize such an event. Also, 8 years to prepare for it is too short. However, Giang said that Vietnam’s prestige was proved through its successful organization of the Asian Indoor Games 2009, and the 23rd Southeast Asian Games. Political stability is another advantage for Vietnam.

 

If Vietnam wins the right to host ASIAD 2019, it is able to train athletes and build sports facilities in eight years, Giang confirmed.

 

However, Vietnam will need a huge amount of money for the ASIAD. This is the biggest problem.

 

The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1982 Games. Since 1982, they have been organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), after the break up of the Asian Games Federation. The Games are recognized by the International Olympic Committee and are described as the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. In its history, nine nations have hosted the Asian Games. All 45 members affiliated to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) are eligible to take part in the Games.

 

Year

Games

Host

Dates

Nations

Athletes

Sports

Events

Ref

1951

I

IndiaNew Delhi, India

March 4–11

11

489

6

57

[29]

1954

II

PhilippinesManila, Philippines

May 1–9

19

970

8

76

[30]

1958

III

JapanTokyo, Japan

May 28–June 1

16

1,820

13

97

[31]

1962

IV

IndonesiaJakarta, Indonesia

August 24–September 4

12

1,460

13

88

[32]

1966

V

ThailandBangkok, Thailand

December 9–20

16

1,945

14

143

[33]

1970

VI

ThailandBangkok, Thailand

August 24–September 4

16

2,400

13

135

[34]

1974

VII

IranTehran, Iran

September 1–16

19

3,010

16

202

[35]

1978

VIII

ThailandBangkok, Thailand

December 9–20

19

3,842

19

201

[36]

1982

IX

IndiaNew Delhi, India

November 19–December 4

23

3,411

21

147

[37]

1986

X

South KoreaSeoul, South Korea

September 20–October 5

22

4,839

25

270

[38]

1990

XI

People's Republic of ChinaBeijing, China

September 22–October 7

36

6,122

29

310

[39]

1994

XII

JapanHiroshima, Japan

October 2–16

42

6,828

34

337

[40]

1998

XIII

ThailandBangkok, Thailand

December 6–20

41

6,554

36

376

[41]

2002

XIV

South KoreaBusan, South Korea

September 29–October 14

44

7,711

38

419

[42]

2006

XV

QatarDoha, Qatar

December 1–15

45

9,520

39

424

[43]

2010

XVI

People's Republic of ChinaGuangzhou, China

November 12–27

45

9,704

42

476

[44]

2014

XVII

South KoreaIncheon, South Korea

September 19–October 4

Future event

2019

XVIII

 

 

Future event

2023

XIX

 

 

Future event

 

PV