Question mark over Asiad preparation

Question mark over Asiad preparation

BANGKOK (AFP): Fears lingered over Bangkok's readiness to host the troubled 1998 Asian Games, exactly a year ahead of the planned opening here, a Thai newspaper said yesterday, calling for speedy action.

"A big question mark still hangs over the games complex" at one of the three main sites for the prestigious event, which is due to kick off on Dec. 6 next year, the Nation daily said.

"The technical committee ... has performed at a sluggish pace and has so far managed little," it said.

The preparation for the 13th Asian Games, awarded to Thailand seven years ago, has been hit by delay after delay as organizers have squabbled and entered into political bickering matches.

The Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) in September considered stripping Bangkok of its right to hold the games but relented after striking a deal under which the local Olympic committee would have more say in the preparations.

An OCA technical committee in October gave Bangkok a crucial thumbs up, saying it believed preparation would be ready in time.

But sporting sources have said one of the three key Bangkok sites, the Bangkok Land stadium site, appeared so far behind schedule that it was difficult to envisage it being completed in time for the games.

"The Bangkok Land site looks like an empty field with just a few foundations sticking up," one source who has been following preparations for the games said earlier.

"I can't imagine how they will ever get it ready on time, and anyway the highway to the area doesn't have any exit ramps yet," the source, who declined to be named, added.

Other figures close to the games said the budget appeared to be extremely tight and expressed fears that not enough cash was being allocated to games preparations.