When bidding for the Asian Games it is always a good idea to promise that all athletes and officials will be given free airfare, board and lodging.
That is at least partly the reason why Busan pipped Kaohsiung to the post in Seoul, 1995, when the two cities vied to hold the 14th Asian Games.
Two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Qatar did the same to beat Malaysia for the right to hold the 15th Asian Games in Doha, to be held Dec. 1 to Dec. 15. But at a press conference yesterday in Busan, South Korea, the president of the Qatar National Organizing Olympic Committee backtracked and said no decision had been reached on the matter.
Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani said there was no "official response" yet to the question of paying for athletes but that everything would be done in accordance with Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) regulations.
He seemed to suggest that no promise of paying for athletes had ever been made and, as in the case of Busan, a percentage of costs might be paid instead.
According to OCA Secretary Randhir Singh, however, the Doha organizers did promise to pay as part of their bid. He told the Busan Asian Games Web site earlier this year the OCA had a copy of that bid and promises in writing.
"It is in the bid document that they will bear the cost. The offer was not only for the officials, but for the athletes as well. We will hold them to that. It is in the bid," Singh was quoted as saying.
Interestingly, notes of the press conference failed to include the question and answers provided by Al Thani on the issue of paying for athletes and officials.
On the issue of reducing the number of sports at the 2006 Asian Games, Al Thani said there may be 33 events, as opposed to the 38 at Busan.
"We can provide a detailed list after the [OCA] general assembly in January," he said.
Asked whether Doha -- with a population of 670,000, of whom 75 percent are expatriates -- was big enough to cope with the Asian Games, he said, "Even though Doha is a small city, it is big enough."
Al Thani said Qatar was a Muslim state but would recognize OCA rules and would not insist on visitors following the practices of the country.
He said women visitors would be allowed to dress freely and added that Qatar had improved the situation of women in the country by encouraging them to take up sports.
Al Thani said he promised there would be a big surprise at the 15th Asian Games, which a Qatar journalist interpreted as the construction of the one of the largest domed structures in the world, big enough to hold six different events.
"The Asian Games will be the most attractive event for all of the Mideast countries. They will throw their support behind us and we'll do our best for 2006."
In related news, the Busan Asian Games Web site has reported Kaohsiung would again be bidding for the Asian Games in 2010.
Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (
Kaohsiung is also likely to compete for the 2007 World University Games.
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