Sports Ministry - 'India will not host South Asian Games-2013'

The sports ministry has reportedly denied permission to host the next set of South Asian Games in India. The games are scheduled to be held in India in January 2013 as per the regular rotation system.

Sports minister Ajay Maken his given the snub to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) over the hosting of the games.

“The re-scheduling of the Games is out of question as it will be shifted to Kathmandu in case of India’s reluctance,” Malhotra said in his letter to the Prime Minister. “It has already been decided in the executive committee meeting of South Asian Olympic Council that in case the Games are not held in India in 2013, they will be allotted to Kathmandu.
“In my earlier letter to you, I had made it clear that the IOA did not make any bid for these Games. They were allotted to us because of the rotation system. The last edition of the Games was held in Bangladesh.”

The IOA’s last ditch appeal comes two days after the sports minister categorically said “unless IOA removes its tainted officials (read Kalmadi and Bhanot), it would nearly be impossible for India to host any other sporting extravaganza.”

However, the sports minister categorically said that the decision of not hosting the game has been reached after due deliberation “We don’t have liberty to hold the Games as per our own convenience. It will be a big embarrassment for India and its sporting fraternity if the Games are moved to another country. India is a leading member of the SAARC and now it’s our turn to conduct the Games,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, a senior sports ministry official on condition of anonymity has reiterated that “there is no way that our stance could be changed because of the sheer reason that the decision of not hosting the Games in 2013 has been taken after due consultation with every concerned ministry and the PMO”.