Incheon wins bid to host 2014 Asian Games, New Delhi loses

KUWAIT, Apr 17 (UNI) New Delhi's dream to host the Asian Games after 32 years was shattered as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) today selected the South Korean city of Incheon over the Indian capital to the host the 2014 Asian Games.

New Delhi and Incheon put up their cases in the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly in form of 30-minute presentations after which the 45-member congress voted in favour of Incheon.

''The city which will host the Asian Games in 2014 is Incheon,'' OCA chief Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahd al-Sabah said after a general assembly meeting in Kuwait.

The Indian capital had dubbed its claim as ''a billion people's bid'' and was counting on the fact that 2010 Commonwealth would provide an ideal platform for Delhi to host the 17th edition of the continental extravaganza, next only to the Olympics.

New Delhi hosted the inugural 1951 Games and then the 1982 edition while Incheon was bidding for the first time.

Incheon's case might have been strenthened after Chineses Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Seoul last week, where the deal to back the Korean city was reportedly clinched.

Located about 80 kilometers west of Seoul, Incheon will be the third South Korean city to host the quadrennial Asian Games, following Busan in 2002 and Seoul in 1986.

Incheon, Korea's third-largest city with a population of 2.74 million, began preparations for its bid for the Games in 2005 after receiving official approval and support from the government.

The main venues, Munhak World Cup Stadium and Samsan Gymnasium, were highly evaluated by the on-site inspection team from the OCA late last year.

Incheon previously promised that it will raise a fund worth 20 million dollars to support Asian countries that have not yet won medals in the Games.

The city fiercely competed with New Delhi, India, which had publicly offered free flights and accommodation to participants, to win the bid.

UNI