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The annual conference of the Vietnam Olympic Committee in 2011, confirmed that an important task of the committee in 2012 would be implementing a campaign for hosting the ASIAD 2019. This is also defined as a key task of Vietnam’s sport sector from now to 2020.
The government has told the Ministry of Planning and Investment to cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to seek financial sources for the games.
Mr. Giang said that Vietnam’s opportunity to host the ASIAD is feasible. Its main rivals at present are only Taiwan, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
He said that Vietnam’s financial potential is not as strong as its rivals but the country is strongly supported by the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA). Vietnam’s prestige has been highly enhanced after it successfully organized the Asian Indoor Games 2009 and the Southeast Asian Games 2003. Moreover, Vietnam is praised for its political stability.
Vietnam plans to spend only US$120 million in this event.
If Vietnam wins the right to organize the event, it will spend only US$120 million. China spent $18.7 billion on the 17th ASIAD in Guangzhou in 2010.
Mr. Giang said that $120 million would be the minimum to host a successful game.
Vietnam would utilize existing sporting facilities located in and around Hanoi, rather than constructing new venues to host the opening and closing ceremonies along with the rest of the games.
He said the committee had only requested a new velodrome and rowing lake for the games.
The velodrome, with a capacity of 2,000 spectators, is expected to cost VND100 billion ($5 million), and will be based in the Hanoi Sport Complex. This is one venue that the sports department has been requesting for some time, without success.
The rowing club would cost from $5-10 million if it is constructed in Hai Phong, about 120km from the capital. However, it would be much cheaper if the West Lake rowing center was upgraded for the purpose.
Another important project would be the athlete's village which would be built in Long Bien District. After the Games, the accommodation would go on sale as affordable housing.
ASIAD is the biggest sporting event on the continent which gathers the most powerful athletes.
Vietnam made an official bid to host the event last March and has been shortlisted in the top four candidates, along with the UAE, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia.
The Olympics Council of Asia will announce the winning country in November in Macau.
Vietnam has proposed 35 sports to be contested at the games, 26 of which are Olympic events and five are traditional Asian – sepak takraw, wushu, karate, baseball and kabadi. The remaining four are Vietnamese "specialties" – chess, shuttle-cock kicking, vovinam and squash.
In Guangzhou, Vietnam won 1 gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals to finish 23rd. The next ASIAD will be in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014.
S. Tung
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