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If New Delhi is caught unawares in the last minute, bank on Ranchi to host the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games.
A confident Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA), buoyed by the success of hosting the 34th National Games in February, has made the offer to elder brother Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
JOA secretary general S.M. Hashmi told The Telegraph, “Jharkhand is still in the race for hosting SAF Games.”
Hashmi and JOA president R.K. Anand requested stand-in president of IOA V.K. Malhotra in Delhi on December 15 to consider Jaipal Singh Munda Mega Sports Complex as a prospective venue for the international event involving eight countries.
Hashmi said they offered to host the Games in Ranchi “when we learnt at the IOA executive council meeting that no final decision was taken yet over formation of the organising committee for the edition in New Delhi”.
“Our proposal is based on the fact that we have world-class infrastructure and the support of a majority of the state Olympic associations. We had also staked our claim during the IOA annual general body meeting in Ranchi in 2006,” Hashmi said.
Hosting the SAF games in Ranchi would be less expensive too, he argued.
“IOA’s estimated budget for the Games is roughly Rs 60 crore. We can host it at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore because we don’t have to spend on equipment and infrastructure,” he added.
All that is needed financially, according to Hashmi, is a grant of Rs 20 crore from the Union ministry of sports and youth affairs. The rest of the amount will be raised through sponsors and with the help of the state government.
The JOA secretary general pointed out that the Ranchi venue was equipped to stage sporting events in 18 disciplines, “more than the minimum stipulated number of 14 disciplines”.
He also argued that accommodation for 2,500-odd athletes would not be a problem, as they were expected to pay for hotel rooms. “Accommodation will not be a financial liability on JOA.”
Hashmi and Anand, both members of the IOA executive council, also attended its annual general body meeting on December 15, during which it was decided to host the SAF Games in 2013 because of a busy schedule in 2012, that includes the London Olympic Games in July-August.
After the previous SAF Games in 2010 in Dhaka, it is India’s turn to play host, according to the rotation policy among member nations every two years.