New Delhi, July 13: The sports ministry has given the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) till Thursday to submit a comprehensive document with all the financial details to provide them permission to bid for the 2019 Asian Games.
The ministry said the National Olympic body delayed significantly in informing the government of its decision to bid for the 2019 Games, giving it very little time to consult with various parties concerned.
Sports minister M.S. Gill said the government had to abide by the system and could not consider any proposal in haste.
“To consider bidding for an event of this magnitude has major financial and other implications and one has to abide by a system. IOA has to prepare a comprehensive document with financial and other details and has to pass a formal resolution in its executive body and then present it to the sports ministry,” Gill said on Tuesday.
“The sports ministry then has to consult the finance ministry, home ministry, Planning Commission and the Delhi government. Only after that the ministry can take the matter up to the cabinet, which takes the final call.
“Just casual talk in the press has no meaning. When such a document is presented to us, we will examine it,” he said.
In a letter written to IOA secretary general Randhir Singh on July 8, sports ministry under secretary S.P.S. Tomar said they needed a comprehensive document to consider such a proposal.
“It is noted from your reply that the decision to bid for 2019 Asian Games was taken at the AGM of IOA. It is not understood as to why it took IOA nearly four months to inform this department of their decision to bid for the Games,” the ministry letter stated.