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Delhi might host the Asian games

If Bangkok bows out, the game might well land in New Delhi's court.

The reference is to next year's Asian games. Or rather, to its venue -- if capital Thailand is, for reasons its own, unable to host it, Delhi will have its chance.

The Olympic Council of Asia, which is worried about the 'lot that remains to be done' will hold an emergency meeting in Kuwait on September 23 to take stock of the preparations to date. The games are scheduled for December, 1998.

Another front runner as a host is China's Shanghai.

The Thai city's preparations have been hampered thanks to the Bangkok Asian Games Organising Committee's bitter feud with the government over the construction of stadia.

''The BAGOC has removed Thailand's National Olympic Committee members leading to a total breakdown in preparations," said OCA secretary general Randhir Singh, "Many important facilities are still to be completed. Several stadia are to be constructed. For some of the facilities, tenders have just been released."

The games' marketing has also run into trouble as BAGOC marketing chief Santiparb Pegawania (who is also the OCA treasurer) was removed by the Thailand deputy prime minister, he said.

The OCA has already signed a (US) $ 82 million sponsorship agreement with the International Sports Leisure and another $ 10 million one with Taiwan's Computer Giant Acer. The sponsorship money, which will be given to the city hosting the games, is expected to go up by another $ 100 million.

Singh expressed confidence that Bangkok will be able to conduct the games smoothly. In case it is not, some other country will step in to save the day. "As we are willing to pump in $ 100 million, there should be no problem in conducting it on time.''

Singh, who is also the Indian Olympic Association secretary general, urged his government to provide enough financial help to sports federations to prepare for the Commonwealth and Asian games which are just 12 and 15 months away.

''We are stuck minus coaches, funds are not available and international exposure is being curtailed. This is effecting our preparation,'' he said, "No top class coach is willing to come at a salary of 1,000 dollars per month. It is high time the government took action."

UNI