No ‘penalty’ for Vietnam pullout: OCA
Strong unity and solidarity is our unique nature, says Asian Olympic body.
Vietnam last week said that for financial reasons it had decided not to host the Games – the world’s biggest multi-sports event after the Olympics – and would explore ways to formally withdraw.
SINGAPORE:
Vietnam will not face any penalty for withdrawing from hosting the 2019 Asian Games, said the influential Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Thursday.
OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah made the comment after a Vietnamese delegation expressed regret for the withdrawal during a visit to the body’s headquarters in Kuwait.
“The unique [nature] of Asian sports is our strong unity and solidarity, which will be on top of any kind of penalty within [the] Asia sports family,” said Al Sabah in a statement.
“Our unity and solidarity are very unique — there isn’t any kind of penalty, but support and understanding.”
Vietnam last week said that for financial reasons it had decided not to host the Games – the world’s biggest multi-sports event after the Olympics – and would explore ways to formally withdraw. The country has been hit by falling economic growth and has scant existing facilities to hold such a large event. AFP
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2014.
Vietnam will not face any penalty for withdrawing from hosting the 2019 Asian Games, said the influential Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Thursday.
OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah made the comment after a Vietnamese delegation expressed regret for the withdrawal during a visit to the body’s headquarters in Kuwait.
“The unique [nature] of Asian sports is our strong unity and solidarity, which will be on top of any kind of penalty within [the] Asia sports family,” said Al Sabah in a statement.
“Our unity and solidarity are very unique — there isn’t any kind of penalty, but support and understanding.”
Vietnam last week said that for financial reasons it had decided not to host the Games – the world’s biggest multi-sports event after the Olympics – and would explore ways to formally withdraw. The country has been hit by falling economic growth and has scant existing facilities to hold such a large event. AFP
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2014.