2010 Asiad: OCM hoping to impress OCA's evaluation committee

PETALING JAYA: The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) are busy preparing for a two-day visit by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Evaluation Committee for the 16th Asian Games bid. 

“We are preparing a comprehensive programme to outline our strengths and why Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) should be picked as the host for the 2010 Asian Games,” OCM deputy president Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan said after attending the National Sukma Conference 2004 organised by INTI College in Subang Jaya yesterday. 

A seven-member evaluation team, headed by OCA vice-president Celso Dayrit, will visit Kuala Lumpur on April 12 and 13. 

During the visit, the committee will hold talks with the Kuala Lumpur Bid Committee and also inspect and evaluate the facilities and infrastructure for the Games. 

“In the meantime, we are also seeking the assistance of Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Azalina Othman in getting the government’s support for the bid. Unfortunately, we were unable to submit the pledge from the government while submitting the documents, due to the recent general election,” he said. 

Yesterday, Azalina said she would meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi before the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss governmental support for the bid. 

On March 30, OCM general manager M.P. Haridas presented six copies of the bid documents to OCA technical director Hussain Al-Musallam in Kuwait. The documents were submitted without the pledge from the government. 

“OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar had earlier discussed the matter with the Prime Minister and we (OCM) believe the support from the government will be forthcoming,” said Jegathesan. 

The bid to host the 16th edition of the Games will see a straight fight between Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou, China after Amman in Jordan and South Korea’s Daegu withdrew from the race. 

“The task will now be the actual contest itself. We have to convince delegates that Kuala Lumpur will be an ideal place for the Games,” he added. 

The final decision will be made during the OCA General Assembly on July 1 in Doha, Qatar. – Bernama