CWG Fallout: Once bitten, IOA now shy of financial role

NEW DELHI: Singed by the scandal that surfaced during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will probably for the first time in its history host a multi-national Games without dealing with the financial aspect of the event.
IOA will hold the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Guwahati and Shillong early next year and it will deal with only the technical aspect of the Games.
The financial aspect is expected to be handled by the government. "IOA will not be involved in the financial activity of the Games. Looking back, we don't want to have a situation that we had in the past," IOA's secretary general Rajiv Mehta told TOI, without specifically referring to the scandals that have continued to haunt the IOA officials years after the Delhi Games.
Former president Suresh Kalmadi is still fighting a legal battle over allegations of misappropriation of funds during the Commonwealth Games held at home.
"Our first and foremost priority is to conduct the Games which have not been held for five years. The Games will have 22 events and it will be held in the second week of January or February next year," Mehta added.
Dhaka hosted the previous edition of the Games in 2010."Some small issues might crop up here and there during the SAF Games, but we will deliver the event professionally," Mehta said.
Athletes from all eight south Asian countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - are expected to take part in the Games.