Inadequate preparation hurting SL’s chances to host Asian Youth Games
View(s):Sri Lanka’s hosting rights for the 2017 Asian Youth Games is at risk following a letter sent by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and the President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) Hemasiri Fernando.
The letter dated January 21 and signed by the OAC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, has pointed out seven important areas where Sri Lanka has failed to address, despite signing a Host City Contract in 2012.
The letter states that the OCA “sees no progress in the conduct of the Games.”
“As you are aware the City of Hambantota in Sri Lanka was entrusted with the responsibility of hosting the 2017 Asian Youth Games by the OCA General Assembly in 2012 and a Host City Contract to this effect was signed between the OCA, the City of Hambantota and the NOC of Sri Lanka. However even after one and half years of the allotment of the Games we see no progress in the conduct of the Games,” the letter states.
Sri Lanka was officially handed the Hosting Right of the 2017 AYG last year in Nanjing, China. - File pic
Accordingly one of the top drawbacks pointed out by the OCA is Sri Lanka’s failure to create an Organising Committee for the 2017 AYG. Among the other snags identified by the OCA are; “The key personnel who will be in charge of the Games in the important functional areas like, Sports, Games Services, Medical, TV and Broadcasting, IT, Venues, Athletes Village have not been appointed; the Master Plan for the conduct of the Games has not yet finalised; the Games budget has not yet been finalised; Law for the Tax Exemption for the Games has not been issued; The venue for the Games has not yet been identified and no construction work has started and no plan for test events has been laid down.”
The OCA President has also expressed his concern over the ongoing dispute between Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Sports and the NOC, and has stated that its General Assembly has made a request to the NOC to fully abide by its approved Statutes and full adherence to the Olympic Charter.
“These important issues of autonomy of the NOC as well as the conduct of the 2017 AYG will be put up to the next meeting of the OCA Executive Board for a final decision and even the withdrawal of the Games from Hambantota,” the letter goes on to say.
Sports Ministry sources however revealed that they will make a formal reply to the OCA by tomorrow.