Centre to IOA: Asiad? Just no way!

Amid allegations of rampant corruption on the part of the Organising Committee for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, the government is understood to have turned down the Indian Olympic Association’s attempt to bid for the 2019 Asian Games.

Reports claimed that the IOA had quietly offered to host the quadrennial event, informing the sports ministry only after the expiry of the June 30 deadline to seek mandatory government approval.

But the Union sports minister, Mr M.S. Gill, denied any knowledge of the Asiad bid or his ministry being approached by the IOA on the matter. “I don’t know about any bid yet. The ministry can only have a view if things are done via a proper system. If you want to bid for anything, you have to prepare lots of documents and you have to have your own council meeting, financial and planning documents, and have to submit those to us.”

However, sources said there would be a formal meeting of the IOA with the Cabinet this week to reconsider the government’s stand on the bid.