|
S. Korea's Incheon wins 2014 Asian Games bid
(AFP)
Updated: 2007-04-19 08:44
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Tuesday announced that the South Korean city Incheon has become the host of the 2014 Asian Games.
Incheon delegates pose at the Olympic Council of Asia headquarters in Kuwait City, 16 April 2007. The South Korean port city of Incheon Tuesday won the right to host the 2014 Asian Games, fending off a challenge from New Delhi to hold the lucrative multi-sport event.[AFP] |
Incheon has had a fierce competition with New Delhi of India, where the first Asian Games was held in and then hosted the Asian Games in 1982.
Incheon, the third biggest city of South Korea, will be the third South Korean city to host the quadrennial Asian Games, following Busan in 2002 and Seoul in 1986.
Located about 80 kilometers west of Seoul, with a population of 2.74 million, Incheon has promised that it would raise a fund worth 20 million U.S. dollars to support Asian countries that have not yet won a medal in the Games.
Furthermore, in its 40-minute presentation to the OCA on Tuesday, Incheon added a new offer of free flights as well as accommodations to all participants in the Asiad 2014.
"From now on, we will prepare for the perfect games during the next seven years to cooperate with the government," said Ahn Sang-soo, mayor of Incheon.
To be the host city, the major continued, will help Incheon to fulfill its ambition of a free trade zone and a Northeast Asia's business hub.
|
