India Opts Out Of 2016 Olympic Bid

India has withdrawn from its bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games following its failure to win the 2014 Asian Games, said India’s Olympic Association (IOA).

Last week Incheon South Korea won over New Delhi and will be hosting the 2014 Asian Games.

IOA President Suresh Kalmadi told the Times of India newspaper “we thought of bidding for the 2016 Olympics because we have the 2010 Commonwealth Games and were planning to host the 2014 Asiad. So by 2016 we could have an Olympics for free, since by then infrastructure would have been in place”.

The IOA is blaming sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for the failed bid, saying his statement earlier this month that New Delhi hosting the Commonwealth Games was an attempt to improve the country’s global image but of little relevance to the common man caused the damage, reports Reuters.

Kalmadi said, “but with Aiyar around there is no question of even attempting the 2016 Olympics. Now we have to look at 2020. For now we will concentrate on staging the Commonwealth Games in a good manner”.

New Delhi is hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Write or read comments about this article

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