Key events scratched from Afro-Asian Games

Even as costs have jumped to a staggering Rs.1.5 billion, the first Afro-Asian Games, to be held in Delhi could, lose much of its sheen with key athletics and swimming events axed due to lack of competitors.

Organisers have dropped the decathlon (a 10-event competition for men), heptathlon (the seven-event counterpart for women), 20-km walk in athletics and the diving and water polo events in swimming have also been excluded.

The Games, which will be contested by the two continents and not individual countries, are to be held from November 3 to 11. Around 6,000 athletes from about 60 countries will vie for honours in athletics, boxing, football, hockey, shooting, swimming, tennis and weightlifting. One male and one female athlete from the rest of the 35 countries will run the "goodwill marathon".

Sam Ramsamy, president of the National Olympic Committee of South African, said Africa was finding it difficult to get big names to participate in some of the disciplines.

"Apart from decathlon and heptathlon, we have excluded the 20-km walk too," he told IANS in Delhi. "Further, some top African marathoners may not come as they are running in the European circuit and will be resting in November."

An official of the Games technical conduct committee said the decision to omit the three athletic events has been taken.

Vahid Moradi, secretary-general of the Asian Amateur Swimming Federation, said the diving and water polo events are certain to be scratched from the swimming competitions.

"The two events are expected to be excluded since the African swimming body has said that it cannot raise the teams," he said.

A swimming official confirmed the two events have indeed been scratched. But perhaps to offset the loss of two events, three events have been added: 50m back stroke, 50m butterfly and 50m back stroke.

However, still there is a possibility that water polo and diving events might be held exclusively for competitors from Asia. "If a decision to that effect is taken, Africa has said it would have no objection, but they have also said that those medals should not be counted (in the final)," disclosed Moradi.

Despite the scratching of events, both Suresh Kalmadi, working chairperson of the games organising committee, and Ramsamy are hoping that the "best possible" athletes from the two continents would be selected for the Games.

"Unfortunately November is off season for athletes, so the competition (at the Games) will be low," said Ramsamy. "Even in football, many African players are turning out in European tournaments and are not likely to be available."

Ramsamy disclosed that the bulk of sportspersons in the various African squads would be from South Africa.

"In swimming, South Africans will form about two-thirds of the team. In athletics, they will be about 50 per cent and in hockey the country will compete in both the men's and women's events," he said.

The hockey tournament has already been hit with Pakistan and South Korea opting out since the Games clash with the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan.

Indo-Asian News Service