Final decision on Afro-Asian Games on Friday, says Uma Bharti

The first Afro-Asian Games are being postponed, though a final decision will only be taken on Friday after Sports Minister Uma Bharti meets with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Highly-placed sources had, earlier on Thursday, said the November 3-11 Games were postponed indefinitely in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, and fresh dates would be announced once the situation becomes clear.

But Bharti, later on Thursday evening, told reporters that a final decision would be taken only Friday.

"We will review the situation arising out of the terrorist attacks in United States at a meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow. After taking into account all the security concerns, a decision on the Afro-Asian Games would be taken," she said.

"I discussed the issue with (Indian Olympic Association president Suresh) Kalmadi. Kalmadi is in touch with international sports bodies and we are keeping a watch on the developing situation," she added.

Kalmadi, for his part, said there is no final word on the Games and they could still be held as scheduled.

"It would be very difficult to postpone the Games now, as all the arrangements have been made. All the participating countries are ready to for the Games and it would be a big disappointment for everybody.

"But the new security angle arising out of the attacks in the United States would have to be considered. We can't compromise with security," he said.

Kalmadi denied that security concerns were being used as an excuse to postpone the Games, which has, reportedly, not attracted many sponsors or top athletes till date.

"If at all the Games get postponed, it would be only because of security concerns," he asserted.

The Games have had a bumpy ride ever since they were conceived in 1982 following the successful organisation of the ninth Asian Games in Delhi. A novel idea, with competitions envisaged between two continents and not between individual countries, the Afro-Asian Games remained in limbo for 18 long years due to one reason or the other before it was finally decided to hold them in November this year.

Even earlier this year, Bharti announced the postponement of the Games, saying there was not enough time to make the necessary preparations.

Kalmadi, one of the prime movers behind the Games, however, got Vajpayee to intervene and announce that the Games would be held as scheduled.

But problems continued with reports of bickering between the Indian Olympic Association and Sports Ministry and ego clashes among the major personalities involved in the organisation of the Games. As matter of fact, the preliminary list of participants does not have a single top athlete in any of the eight disciplines.

Earlier report
Afro-Asian Games postponed