Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to withdraw from hosting the18th Asian Games (ASIAD-18), which is slated for Hanoi in 2019,according to the Prime Minister’s Office on April 17.
The Office released the conclusion on the hosting of ASIAD-18 of thePrime Minister who assigned relevant agencies to work with the OlympicCouncil of Asia (OCA) and relating partners on the option of withdrawingthe hosting of the event.
While the country hasno experience in organising big sports events like ASIAD, the hostinghas not been prepared thoroughly, accordingly to the conclusion.
The Prime Minister has yet approved the plan on the organisation of ASIAD-18, the conclusion said.
Meanwhile, consensus has yet been reached on the goal andsignificance of hosting the event as well as total investment andspecific funding sources.
Impacts from theglobal financial crisis and economic downturn are still on the nationaleconomy. The country's socio-economic situation remains in difficulties.
The State budget is limited and prioritized forother urgent projects. Investment sources to build new facilities inservice of the event, which was proposed to mobilise from society andASIAD revenue, are insecure, it explained.
Hosting andsuccessfully organising regional and international sports events willcontribute to socio-economic development, promoting the country’s imagesand increasing its position. However, if fails to do so, the effectswill be reversed, says the decision.
TheGovernment of Vietnam thanked the OCA for supporting the country indeveloping sports and Hanoi, in particular, in hosting the ASIAD 18.
Vietnam, however, will request for hosting the games in an appropriate time, the conclusion said.-VNA