Hanoi to host 2019 Asian Games

Hanoi has won the right to host the 2019 Asian Games, beating Indonesian city Surabaya in a vote at the Olympic Council of Asia’s general assembly. Sheik Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah of Kuwait, head of the Olympic Council of Asia, told a news conference on Thursday that the Vietnamese capital won the majority of votes in the two-way race after Dubai withdrew its bid. “Through my experience in sport and also in finance and the economy, Vietnam is always committed and delivers on its promises,” Sheik Ahmad said. [caption id=“attachment_520142” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Reuters[/caption] Vietnam hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2003. The Asian Games, the biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics, have been running since 1951. The next edition in 2014 will be hosted by Incheon, South Korea. Hanoi, a city of 7 million, plans 36 sports, including the 28 in the 2020 Olympic Games, and 16 days of competition in late November 2019. A new airport terminal, highways and bridges, as well as sports facilities, are part of Hanoi’s long-term development, organizers said. “This is great for Vietnam and I am very happy,” said Hoang Tuan Anh, president of the Vietnam National Olympic Committee and Minister of Sport and Culture. “We have successfully organized the South East Asian Games and the Asian Indoor Games in 2009, and based on this experience we know we have much to do to build a successful Asian Games in 2019.” AP