Preparations for Asiad going well<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is satisfied
\nwith ongoing preparations for the 13th Asian Games to be staged
\nin Bangkok in December 1998 despite some concerns about meeting
\nthe deadline, Thai dailies reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
Although traffic jams, the scheduling of events, dope-testing
\nfacilities and even the standard of English used in programs and
\nbrochures for the Asiad are still a worry, OCA President
\nSheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah was impressed by progress to date.<\/p>\n
\"I have seen some clear advancement and now I am quite
\nconfident that Thailand will be an excellent host for the Asian
\nGames,\" OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabahhe was quoted as
\nsaying at the end of a two-day mission here.<\/p>\n
His trip included a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Banharn
\nSilpa-archa.<\/p>\n
His response was in stark contrast to the unfavorable
\nevaluation mission in December 1995, when the OCA threatened to
\nwithdraw the Games from Thailand.<\/p>\n
The OCA had been unhappy with progress in preparations by
\nauthorities in the six years since the Games were awarded to
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
But the Chairman of the OCA's Sports Committee, China's Wei
\nJizhong, still expressed misgivings about the program of events
\nprepared by the Bangkok Organizing Committee for the Asiad.<\/p>\n
According to the Bangkok Post, he criticized plans to schedule
\nthe finals of 13 events on a single day, Dec. 18, and also the
\nsize of the venues for some events.<\/p>\n
Holding so many finals on one day would \"kill the interest
\nthese exciting disciplines enjoy,\" the Post reported Wei Jizhong
\nas saying.<\/p>\n
Delegates of the OCA are due to visit Thailand again in
\nSeptember for a further evaluation mission. A complete list of
\nevents for the Asiad, which may include two new sports, rugby and
\nsnooker, will be decided in December.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/preparations-for-asiad-going-well-1447893297",
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