Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung announced on April 17 that Vietnam will no longer host the 18th Asian Games.
He announced this at a meeting attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and leaders of ministries of Finance, Planning and Investment, Foreign Affairs, Government office and the People’s Committee of Hanoi.
The Prime Minister made this decision after review reports from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The Prime Minister requested Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism to work with Foreign Affairs, Hanoi People’s Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and relating partners on the option of withdrawing the hosting of the event.
The government thanked OCA for nominating Vietnam for hosting the event, however, Vietnam will request for hosting the games in an appropriate time, the conclusion said.
Vietnam has hosted other local and international sporting events such as Asian Games. Hosting a large event such as Asian Games would attract economic and social development. The country’s current financial situation is insufficient to build infrastructure to host the Asian Games.
