Checks loom for Bangkok's Asian Games work

Checks loom for Bangkok's Asian Games work

BANGKOK (AFP): Two more key deadlines are looming for organizers of next year's Bangkok Asian Games which has been put on a tight schedule to get preparations back on track.

One falls on Friday, but the more important is at the end of the month when a senior Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) envoy will check on general preparations for the world's second largest sporting event.

Chinese Olympic Committee vice-president Wei Jizhong could again recommend that a last minute replacement be found if Bangkok is found not to have kept commitments made when it was given a final warning last month, OCA sources said.

Wei will visit the Thai capital on Oct. 31 in the first serious visit since the OCA executive set strict conditions for the Bangkok Asia Games Organizing committee (BAGOC) to keep the event in December next year.

"He could, in theory make a recommendation against Bangkok to the OCA general assembly to be held in New Delhi in December," said an OCA executive member who requested anonymity.

Games preparations had been held up by the Thai economic crisis, political interference in BAGOC and infighting.

The deadlines for checks were imposed under a deal made last month between BAGOC and the OCA. "The checks are more important now because next year it will be too late to move," said the executive member.

BAGOC has already admitted this week that some venues may not be ready on time.

Chairat Kamnuan, BAGOC deputy chairman, told a meeting Monday to review progress he was "convinced construction was running smoothly and work would be completed for the warm-up events for the Games," the Nation said.

Chairat added though that studies had been carried out to assess other venues in case any of the four main Games sites were not ready in time.

He said renovations of existing stadiums was going ahead in case the hockey and baseball venues were not ready on time.

"Many consider the Hua Mark Chalerm Phrakiart Stadium, which is earmarked for the opening and closing ceremonies would be delayed by two to three months, with completion moved back from this November to next January," he added.

Meanwhile Thailand is to launch a media offensive to counter negative publicity about Bangkok's preparations.

Olympic Committee of Thailand president General Chettha Thanajaro and BAGOC chairman Sukhavich Rangsitpol are to hold a press conference in Jakarta next week during the Southeast Asian Games to rally confidence in Thailand.

As part of a three million baht (US$84,000) roadshow, the pair will also travel to India, coinciding with the OCA general assembly, to present a similar presentation, an official said.

Sukhavich said yesterday the conferences would confirm that Thailand would be ready.

The pair will provide information to show that the stadiums, press facilities, traffic and transport arrangements for the Games, to be attended by 34 nations, would be properly organized.