Hanoi expected to be voted host of 2019 Asian Games
Surabaya and Dubai also in running to stage world's second largest multi-sports showpiece
Hanoi has emerged as favourite to win today's Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) vote to host the 2019 Asian Games, the second-largest multi-sports games next to the Olympics, which Hong Kong thumbed its nose at and turned down the opportunity to contest.
It seems, however, that Hanoi has grabbed the inside track thanks to the Vietnamese government signing a pledge to make the games a success and promising to spend billions of dollars on a massive programme to develop the city's infrastructure.
"The government and the city of Hanoi are fully behind the bid to host the 2019 Asian Games," said Hoang Vinh Giang, OCA vice-president and a member of Vietnam's National Olympic Committee.
"This is just not about the Asian Games, it's about creating a new Hanoi and the government is fully behind our bid. They have already written to the Olympic Council of Asia pledging the financial commitment needed to make the games a success," Giang said.
"The infrastructure project has already been mapped out and it will transform Hanoi into a modern city. There are plans to build bridges and highways.
"We have already allocated 39 hectares for an athlete's village, which after the games will be used for public housing.
